Martyr in Bangladesh

Chapter 5. More Cyclones and War

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Fr. Valerian Cobbe with his classmate Fr. Bob Maloney, working together in Bangladesh

On the night of November 13, 1970, East Pakistan was hit by one of the worst cyclones in its history: 500,000 people died, and the harvest and cattle destroyed. A tragedy of biblical proportions that moved the world. Pope Paul VI interrupted his journey to the Philippines to bring help and comfort. In what was the first visit by a pope to a Muslim country, Paul VI said: “I come among you as a friend and brother. I want you to know that I share your suffering, and I offer my deep sympathy to the families who have been affected by this tragedy”.

Unfortunately, the country had to contend with another serious problem. Political tension had been going on between East and West Pakistan for some time. Things came to a head in the elections of December 6, 1970: 313 members were elected to a single parliament and sheik Mujibur Rahman, head of the Awami League of East Pakistan, obtained a majority and asked the President to authorize him to form a new government.

Faced with a refusal, he incited the population to civil disobedience. The central government sent in troops and bloodshed followed. The war lasted during the whole year of 1971 and, upon its conclusion, East Pakistan became an independent state, Bangladesh.

Father Mario Veronesi was among the victims of the war, killed by soldiers in Jessore on Palm Sunday, April 4, 1971. Father Cobbe, who had lived with him for more than four years, wrote to the Superior General: “I have cried so much that I now have an eye infection, but we press ahead with the harvest and the Holy Week celebrations. Father Mario was a giant among us, thanks to his spiritual stature and his charity”.

I have cried so much on the murder of Fr. Veronesi that I now have an eye infection, but we press ahead with the harvest, and the Holy Week celebrations. Father Mario was a giant among us, thanks to his spiritual stature and his charity.
Fr. Valerian Cobbe

He was alone now. The problems caused by the war added to his other concerns. Father Ceci, who was with him during those months, describes the situation: “Shimulia was among the most difficult places. The 1,500 Christians wondered whether they should flee, perhaps seek refuge in India. Father Cobbe told them to stay. Thus began the most dangerous commuting from one place to another, back and forth, that I have ever witnessed. Almost every night we had to open our house to the guerrillas; almost every day we had to convince some Pakistan official that the village did not harbor any guilty people.

The school functioned as usual (perhaps it was the only one in the entire country), the wells continued to supply water. Unfortunately, the regular soldiers caused some trouble and there was a fight in the village which left two soldiers dead. They accused the mission of connivance and came back and killed one of the mission’s helpers in revenge. The incident shook Father Cobbe and made him more nervous. News arrived of the destruction of villages and reprisals that left hundreds of people dead. I think that Father Cobbe was in danger dozens of times without ever realizing it. Some soldiers, offended by his reaction, used to lie in wait for him along the road where his jeep often passed”.

Fr. Valerian on his last visit to Italy

“I count on Your Prayers”

In October 1971, the superiors recalled Father Cobbe to Italy for a period of rest. The tension, fatigue and suffering had worn him out. He stayed in Italy for seven months in what would be his last visit there. During this time, he knocked on many doors because he could not possibly return to Shimulia empty-handed.

He returned to his mission in July 1972 and, some months later, he wrote to his parents: “It is not easy to provide for the necessities of almost 15,000 people; sometimes I have no idea how we will be able to maintain all our various activities. I count on the support of your prayers. Many people who know me well have said that I must have had good parents; thousands of people, Muslims, Christians, Hindus sing your praises”

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