ADOPTED FROM BANGLADESH

What we have in common is that we live in the Netherlands, and perhaps also that we were adopted from Bangladesh. If we go back further, we know nothing except for a few people there. What we do share is the historical past from Bangladesh.

Here we try to indicate how adoption from Bangladesh started until it stopped. We are not detailed about this because we do not have all the information. If you can add a missing piece of information, we would love to hear from you. We hope that this story will be rewritten by you until it is completely complete. We create the plan, will you help us complete it? Perhaps your parents still have information or you were involved in the procedures from Bangladesh or you were an escort. We would like to hear it!

Until 1971, Bangladesh was part of Pakistan and was called East Pakistan. In 1971 there was a bloody war of independence, during which women were raped en masse by Pakistani soldiers. Since Bangladesh is a Muslim country and these women would be rejected or these children would be rejected, the aid agencies at the time decided to make these children eligible for mediation to the Netherlands.

Once the great baby boom was expected to occur (about 9 months later), the mass rejection of children did not occur. The emergency services that had set up everything and had done everything possible to provide adequate assistance, had to stand idly by. The reason is probably that these children did not differ in appearance and were therefore included in the family as their own children. Adoption from Bangladesh started to take off after the great famine, which caused many people to die. This famine was one of the most disastrous in the country's history.

From about 1973 (who were the first? Who knows or are you one yourself) people started adopting children. These children came from various parts of the country and arrived in the Netherlands via Dacca.

In maart/april 1975 werd de oprichter van de staat Bangladesh, Bangabandu (vriend van de Bengalen) Mujibur Rachman bloedig vermoord in zijn huis, evenals zijn gezin en lijfwachten. Zijn huis is deze staat geconserveerd en is te bezichten als museum.

As a result, all adoptions were delayed by six months at the time, because no one was allowed in or out of the country. Before 1976 we heard about the following homes and institutions. The Salvation Army Home and through the Terre des Hommes Foundation and the Holy Cross College. At Holy Cross College, Sister Leonora was especially active in the adoption of children from Bangladesh. The first child came to the Netherlands through her on June 12, 1975. Who has more information about these organizations?

From 1976 onwards, all children ended up in the Nicwo baby home (children's home). From there, all legal documents required for the children to go to the Netherlands were taken care of. The most basic medical care was also provided here. Mr. Manzur (Muslim Ali Khan) worked in this home. He was the legal assistant at the time and signed the blue form that is generally so familiar to you. The waiver. That is why for many people the search starts with him. Unfortunately, he often does not know what the background of the children was. He was only the administrative intermediary.

The home has already been converted into a home and is therefore somewhat difficult to find. However, those who were older at the time of adoption will still be able to recognize some things.

Around 1980 they stopped opening the borders for adoption. The argument was put forward that the Netherlands has a Christian foundation, unlike Bangladesh, which has a Muslim majority. Muslim children had to be raised by Muslim parents.

Bengali children are still offered for adoption in Arab countries. This is still true even today. With all the unfortunately sad consequences. Many of these children are used as child slaves or end up in prostitution. The institutions also know this, but unfortunately they are forced by the government to put a number of children up for adoption.

In 1982, Mr Manzur was discredited. He was suspected of illegal adoption practices and ended up in prison, but released some time later. The man who ensured that he ended up behind bars has now even been arrested for corruption and is now in prison himself. Mr Manzur was also accused of using children as child slaves in Western countries. In response, the adoptive parents sent reports and children's photos to Bangladesh to prove the opposite.

As mentioned, there is no longer adoption from Bangladesh, via the official institutions, but there is always a creative solution available for those who want it. The latter has been around for over 2 years and is a member of Shapla, just like her father. Although we are no longer growing as a group within the Netherlands, we hope to welcome you as a member.