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When East Pakistan declared independence and the nation of Bangladesh was born in 1971, West Pakistan troops reacted with brutal force.

Widespread mass killings and rapes were reported during Operation Searchlight.

While Pakistan disputes a death toll of hundreds of thousands during what it calls a civil war, Bangladesh claims the event was a well-planned genocide involving Pakistani troops and local collaborators.

Like all crimes against humanity, the passage of time makes it difficult to gather evidence and identify those responsible.

But there are those in Bangladesh who says it is not too late to bring many of the alleged perpetrators before a tribunal and give the victims, living and dead, the justice they deserve.

This episode of 101 East aired on Thursday, April 17, 2008.