Bangladesh observes Genocide Day

Many parts of Bangladesh went dark for a minute from 9:00pm on Monday as the nations observed the Genocide Day, recalling the beginning of the genocide that the Pakistan military committed against Bengalis on the night of March 25, 1971 and afterwards during the nine-month Liberation War.
The nation observed the Genocide Day with heavy heart recalling the horror of one of the worst genocides in the modern history committed by the Pakistan occupation military.
Turning lights off for a minute, the nation paid tribute to martyrs of 1971 War for Independence.
People also held torchlight precessions, candlelight vigils, discussions and exhibitions marking the day and called for government’s strong diplomatic efforts to earn the international recognition of the day as well as genocide.
On the night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched ‘Operation Searchlight.’ Tanks rolled out in Dhaka, attacking the halls at Dhaka University, the then East Pakistan Rifles headquarters and Rajarbagh Police Lines and the Old Town of Dhaka killing several thousand unarmed Bengalis.
Three million people were savagely and systematically killed with the help of local collaborators, over two lakh women were violated and one crore people were made refugee in the subsequent nine-month Liberation War.
The government on March 21, 2017 declared March 25 as the Genocide Day following a parliamentary resolution adopted on March 11, 2017.
Awami League-led alliance leaders placed wreath at Shikha Chirantan in Suhrawardy Udyan in the memory of the Bengalis killed by the Pakistani army in Dhaka on the day in 1971.
AL presidium member and alliance spokesperson Mohammad Nasim, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction president Hasanul Haq Inu, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AL central leaders Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Shahe Alam and others spoke at the Shurawardy Udyan rally.
They hoped that the world community would give recognition of March 25 killings in Bangladesh as genocide soon.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh brought out a torchlight procession from its central office at Purana Paltan which ended at Shikha Chirantan in the evening.
Dhaka city unit of the Workers Party of Bangladesh held a candlelight vigil in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 7:00pm.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee also brought out a torchlight procession from Central Shaheed Minar in the evening and held a discussion.
Sammilita Sanskritik Jote held a candlelight vigil in front of Banglabandhu Bhaban in the evening. 
Dhaka University and University of Professionals held different programmes, including documentary exhibition and discussion, marking the day.
Bangladesh missions abroad also observed the Genocide Day.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net