Genocide Day Today

The nation observes Genocide Day today commemorating the barbaric mass killing committed by the Pakistani occupation forces on the night of March 25, 1971, reports media.

The day is being observed officially for the sixth time as Parliament on March 11, 2017 unanimously adopted a resolution to observe March 25 as Mass Killing Day.  

On the black night of March 25, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killing in Dhaka to implement their blueprint to thwart the Awami League’s assumption of office following the election mandate of 1970.

In an operation codenamed ‘Operation Searchlight’, the Pakistani forces killed Bangalee members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people.

They also set fire to houses and property and looted business establishments, leaving a trail of destruction.

The government has chalked out various programmes to mark Genocide Day.

Like previous years, the nation will observe a one-minute symbolic blackout from 9:00pm, recalling the horror of the black night of March 25.

But key point installations (KPI) and other emergency installations will remain out of the purview of the blackout programme.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.

Different political, social and cultural organisations have also drawn up separate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.

Dhaka South and North city units of Awami League will jointly organise a discussion at 3:00pm.

A discussion will be held on the Genocide Day at 10:00am at the Liberation War Museum.

Cultural programmes, including ‘Geeti Natya’ (musical drama) based on Liberation War will be organised across the country.

Discussions will be arranged at all the educational institutions, including madrasas, where heroic freedom fighters and noted personalities will recall memories. Rare photos and documentaries on mass killing will be exhibited on the premises of all the city corporations, including Dhaka.

Newspapers published special supplements while television channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

Special munazat will be offered at all the mosques and other religious institutions, seeking eternal peace of the martyrs, who were killed on March 25, 1971.

Discussions will also be arranged at district and upazila levels, marking the day.

All Bangladesh missions abroad will also observe the day paying rich tributes to the martyrs of March 25, 1971.

A film on the War of Liberation titled ‘Guerilla’ will be screened on the Dhaka Reporters Unity premises at 6:30pm.

Marking the day, Sector Commanders Forum-Muktijuddha-71 organised a seminar at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Thursday, urging the government to earn institutional recognition of Genocide Day from the United Nations.

Marking the day, 52 torches will be ignited at the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of the day under the auspices of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.