AZM Sajjad Hossain, Washington DC, 25th March, 2023 — The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC observed the “Genocide Day” today (Saturday) commemorating one of the most brutal genocides in world history that was committed by the Pakistan army on 25th March in 1971 in Bangladesh.
The Embassy organized elaborate programs to pay deep homage to the martyrs who were killed mercilessly by the Pakistani military junta’s operation code named “Operation Searchlight” on the black night of 25th March in that year.
The day’s programmes began with observance of one-minute silence to pay profound respect to the martyrs of the War of Liberation. This was followed by screening of a documentary on the brutalities of the Pakistani army in Bangladesh in 1971.
The messages issued by Hon’ble President Md. Abdul Hamid and Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Minister (Commerce) Md Salim Reza and Minister (Political) Md Rasheduzzaman.
Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran paid rich tributes to the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and three million martyrs of the Liberation War.
Recalling the Pakistani army’s atrocities in the War of Liberation War, he said the Pakistan army launched the infamous “Operation Searchlight” in Dhaka on the night of March 25 in 1971 as part of their blueprint to thwart the Awami League's assumption of office following its victory in the elections held in 1970.
He described the March 25 massacre as the worst genocide in human history and mentioned that the systematic mass killing and atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistani junta on the unarmed Bangalees on that day left thousands of people dead and a trail of destruction which continued till December 1971.
Ambassador Imran said Bangabandhu formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March 1971 after the Pakistan army’s barbaric attack. Under Bangabandhu’s undisputed leadership, Bangladesh achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan, he said.
The Ambassador called upon all to work unitedly to build “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) as dreamt by Bangabandhu and join the journey of establishing a “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War.
Minister (Economic) Md. Mahadee Hasan also took part in the discussion and urged all to highlight the issue of Pakistani army’s brutality on 25th March before the world community to get the international recognition of the genocide.
The programs ended with offering a special prayer seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the War of Liberation. First Secretary (Visa & Passport Wing) Muhammad Abdul Hye Milton conducted the programs.