Dhaka, March 25: Bangladesh is observing Genocide Day today. On this occasion, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the millions who lost their lives during the brutal actions of the Pakistani army in 1971.
Hasina described this day as the most terrifying night in the lives of the Bangladeshi people. She noted that on March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army initiated “Operation Searchlight,” launching a systematic campaign to eliminate the Bengali population.
In a statement, Hasina remarked, “Within nine months, the death toll from this brutal genocide exceeded 3 million. There is no precedent for such cruelty in Bengali history, which is why no appropriate Bengali term for ‘genocide’ has emerged; the commonly used term is ‘genocide’ itself.” This statement was shared by the Awami League on their social media platform X.
She further stated, “On this dark night, I remember the great leader of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle, the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was arrested by the occupying Pakistani army that very night. I pay tribute to the countless martyrs whose sacred blood has stained this land.”
Hasina emphasized that to ensure recognition of the “atrocities and barbarism” of the occupying Pakistani army, the Awami League government made a historic declaration on March 11, 2017, designating March 25 as ‘Genocide Day.’
The former Prime Minister asserted, “We have tried to inform the world about the heavy price of our freedom and to strengthen the global demand for justice regarding this genocide.”
She stressed that despite “conspiracies and pressures” from both domestic and international fronts, the previous Awami League government ensured that many identified perpetrators of crimes against humanity received severe punishment through proper legal processes.
“This was not an act of revenge, but a necessary step towards justice, the rule of law, and ending the culture of impunity,” she stated.
Criticizing the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, Hasina noted, “During Yunus’s tenure, this trial was halted, and convicted war criminals were released. A war criminal sentenced to death was even made a member of the national parliament, which disrespected the sacrifices of millions of martyrs.”
She added, “Continuing this trend, attempts are being made to deliberately undermine the sacred memories of the martyrs and to resettle criminals and their allies in various ways. This not only distorts history but also attacks the spirit of the liberation struggle.”
Emphasizing the unity displayed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Hasina stated that any attempts to resettle the murderers and reintroduce Pakistani ideology into the country should be opposed with national solidarity.
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