India, Bangladesh jointly observe Genocide Day

India and Bangladesh have jointly observed March 25 as the ‘Genocide Day’ in protest of the mass killing of innocent and unarmed Bangalees in the black night of March 25, 1971, by the Pakistani occupation forces.

Tripura Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 March 2017, 02:44 PM
Updated : 26 March 2017, 02:44 PM

To mark the day Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala organised a silent candle protest at the Rabindra centenary hall premises.

Members of Bangladesh cultural communities, officials and staff of the Assistant High Commission, local writers, social activists and from various walks of life participated in the programme.

One minute silence was observed to show respect to the memories of the martyrs of the War of Independence in 1971, particularly the victims of March 25, at the beginning of the event.

A cultural programme was jointly organised by artists from Bangladesh and Tripura.

During the discussion, the speakers highlighted the massacre of thousands of innocent and unarmed Bangalees in the black night of March 25, 1971, by the Pakistani occupation forces.

Renowned activist Gautam Das, speaking on occasion said, “We have lighted candles to recall all those who in spite of suffering such barbarism has sacrificed their lives to bring independence to Bangladesh and to create awareness in the international community on such genocide."

"It is our joint respect towards those souls, and we believe that by jointly celebrating this day the relation between the people of both the nations will further improve and strengthen.”

Meantime, Nargis Choudhury, a cultural activist from Bangladesh said, “On this day we had protested because in the 1970 election the Awami League had won 167 seats out of total 169 seats, but the ruling force of West Pakistan was not happy or ready to hand over the power to Bengalees."

"However, after the fall of Ayiub Khan, they assured that would form assembly and hand over the power to elected leaders. But, they had brought more forces from West Pakistan and attacked the common people, students in university while they were asleep."

She added: "Hundreds of people were murdered and the biggest genocide was organised at Chuknagar in Khulna which started from 10 AM and continued till 3 PM. Some ten thousand people who had gathered there with the intention to cross the border for safety and security were murdered, and the bodies were thrown into the river and those who wad witness the massacre said that the river water remained red for next 20 to 25 days."

"This is the most gruesome among the five known genocides in the world, and so the Bangladesh government has decided to bring this to the notice of the global community and the day is observed as International Genocide Day across the globe.”

They remarked that the barbaric act of Pakistani forces is unmatchable with any other genocide that had taken place after the Second World War.

Condemning the unprovoked and barbaric crackdown of Pakistani occupation forces on the unarmed Bengalees, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh at Agartala Md Shakhawat Hossain said, “On this day in 1971 at midnight the then Pakistani government has brutally killed our innocent people, thousands of people.

"So our present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has decided to observe the day as National Genocide Day. From her message we want to inform the whole world that in 1971 people have suffered brutally and we request to all to recognise this day as International Genocide Day.”

He added, “The entire plot of genocide was pre-planned to stop the movement of liberation under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” 

He remarked that, on this day, Bengalees would recall their sacrifice that brought about the independence and it is the duty of Bangladesh to create awareness in the international community so that such genocide is never repeated anywhere else in the world again.