Starting from the language movement of 1952, the struggle for a Bengali cultural identity as distinct and separate from the Pakistani culture has been intrinsic in the national struggle. The cultural activists have been the most visible and active elements of the resistance against the Pakistani domination. During the Liberation War, cultural activists from Bangladesh organised regular programmes in the occupied territories, in the refugee camps and in the Indian cities to raise awareness and build public opinion in favour of the Bangladesh cause.

Cultural personalities the world over also played impressive supportive roles in campaigning for the Bangladesh cause. Pandit Ravishankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and the popular Beatle singer, George Harrison organised a fund raising "Concert for Bangladesh" at Madison Square Gardens on 1st August in New York which attracted a huge crowd.

In November, "Concert in Sympathy" was held at seven cities in the United Kingdom participated by artists from Bangladesh, India and Great Britain. Leading Indian artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Waheeda Rahman and Sharmila Tagore organized a concert called "Strings and Stars - a cry for help" for raising funds for Bangladesh. In West Bengal, intellectuals and musicians e.g. Bishnu Dey, Jamini Roy, Tarashankar Bandopaddhay, Dipen Bandopaddhay, Kanika Bandopaddhay, Suchitra Mitra etc. consistently lent their support for the cause of the Liberation War through their writings and musical soirees. The great French philosopher Andre Malraux, inspite of his old age, declared his readiness to join the Bangladesh Liberation War as a guerrilla. The American poet, Allen Ginsberg visited the refugee camps and wrote his famous poem "September on Jessore Road".