The government has taken the formal decision to announce Mar 25 as Genocide Day to commemorate the atrocities launched by the Pakistan Army on the Bengalis on that night in 1971.
Published : 20 Mar 2017, 11:09 PM
The proposal to observe the day internationally has already been sent to the United Nations, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam says.
The Cabinet cleared the proposal to announce the Day in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Secretary Shafiul said the Cabinet also cleared a proposal to include the Day as category 'Ka' for national and international observation which means the programmes for the Day will get the maximum allocation and specific people will take part in those.
Parliament passed a motion to observe the Day on Mar 11. After the clearance by the Cabinet, the Day will be observed nationally in Bangladesh from now on.
A total of 56 MPs, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad, took part in the discussion on the motion, which read: "It is Parliament's opinion that Mar 25 be declared Genocide Day to commemorate the genocide conducted by the atrocious Pakistani forces on the black night of Mar 25, 1971, and necessary steps are taken to have the Day recognised internationally."
About the international observance of the Day, he said the foreign ministry sent the proposal to the related UN agency.
The Pakistan Army swooped on the unarmed innocent Bengalis on the night of Mar 25, 1971, to subjugate their struggle for freedom.
Codenamed ‘Operation Searchlight’ they carried out genocide in the first hours of that night in Dhaka.
Bengalis put up a valiant resistance and snatched victory on Dec 16 after nine months of Liberation War.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence before being arrested by the Pakistani forces on that night.