Nation observes ‘Genocide Day’

The nation observed the ‘Genocide Day’ on Thursday in remembrance of the brutality carried out by Pakistani Army on the unarmed Bangalees on the black night of March 25 in 1971 under the infamous “Operation Searchlight”.

The government and political, social and cultural organizations held various programmes to observe the day with due respect, maintaining the health guidelines in the wake of the global pandemic coronavirus, reports BSS.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the ‘Genocide Day’ paying rich tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 genocide.

On the black night of March 25, 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 the “Gonohotya Dibos” (Genocide Day) on March 11, 2017.

Subsequently, the cabinet division at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, unanimously endorsed the decision on March 20 in 2017.