Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi observed Genocide Day on Saturday commemorating Pakistani military’s brutal crackdown on the Bengalis on the black night of 25th March in 1971 killing at least 50,000 people and burning down hundreds of homes just in a night.
Marking the day, a panel discussion underling the need for national and international campaign for making March 25 as the Genocide Day was also held, followed by screening of a documentary on the atrocities the Pakistan army had committed during Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Moderated by Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, deputy high commissioner, the discussion was participated by two senior Indian journalists Saumya Bandyopadhyay and Pallab Bhattacharya.
“The dark night of March 25 had witnessed the highest number of deaths of civilians in one night at the hand of a ruthless military (Pakistan),” said Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali in a speech highlighting the significance and background of the day.
“Bangladesh has taken an appropriate move in declaring it as Genocide Day. The U.N. now should come forward to make it an International Genocide Day like it did in case of International Mother Language Day that is observed on February 21,” he said. The speakers underlined the need for putting on trial the Pakistani military commanders who had made the blueprint and executed one of world history worst genocide during the nine-month war that saw the deaths of three million unarmed civilians.
The journalists hailed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina bold move to put the local collaborators of Pakistani army on trial for committing crimes against humanity. On this night 46 years ago, the military machine of Pakistan unleashed one of the worst mass killings in a single night by machine guns, tanks, mortars and automatic weapons.
The crackdown, code named “Operation Searchlight” was designed to suppress the Bengalis who exploded into mass protests after the then military junta of Pakistan conspired to deprive Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur and his Awami League party to form government following a massive victory in Pakistan’s general election in 1970.
Bangladesh government has recently decided to observe 25h March as the Genocide Day with a call to the United Nations to make it an international event and mobilize world opinion to this goal.
