Genocide Day observed

The ‘Genocide Day’ was observed across the country Monday in a befitting manner amid recalling the brutalities and cowardly attacks by the Pakistani occupation forces on the unarmed innocent Bangalees on the black night of March 25, 1971.

The day was marked with elaborate programs, commemorating the brutalities took place on the Bangalees in the city by the Pakistani occupation forces on that day. The day was also observed at different Bangladeshi High Commissions and missions abroad in a befitting manner.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Sunday highlighting significance of observing the day.

As part of the program, a one-minute ‘Blackout’ program was observed from 9 pm to 9.01 pm across the country Monday night.

Discussions and memorial programs were arranged at the all educational institutions. Rare photos and documentaries on mass killing were exhibited and screened on the premises of the Department of Films and Publications jointly organized by Information Ministry, Press and Information Department, Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.

Besides, rare photos and documentaries on mass killing were also exhibited and screened across the country.

Newspapers published special supplements and television channels aired special programs highlighting the significance of the day.

Special munazat was offered at all the mosques and other religious institutions across the country, seeking eternal peace for martyrs who were killed on March 25 in 1971.

Discussions were arranged at district and upazila levels marking the day. Besides, cultural programs on the genocide and the Liberation War were organized across the country.

In observance of the day, Centre for Genocide Studies (CGS) of Dhaka University organized a two-day international conference titled ‘Genocide and Mass Violence’ at the Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium on the campus that ended Monday.

The Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 brought out a torch procession from the central Shaheed Minar premises at 8 pm.

On the black night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta carried out mass killing in Dhaka as part of their blueprint to thwart the Awami League’s assumption of office following the victory in the elections held in 1970.

In the attack dubbed ‘Operation Searchlight’, the Pakistani forces mercilessly killed the Bangalee members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people.

They killed people indiscriminately, set houses and properties on fire, and looted business establishments, leaving a trail of destruction.

The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) unanimously adopted a resolution to observe the March 25 as “Gonohotya Dibos” (Genocide Day) on March 11, 2017. Subsequently, the cabinet division in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, unanimously endorsed the decision on March 20 in 2017.

Source: BSS

AH