JS declares March 25 as Genocide Day

Parliament yesterday unanimously adopted a motion to declare March 25 as Genocide Day (Gonohotya Dibas), mark the start of atrocities unleashed by the Pakistani occupation forces on the people of then-East Pakistan on this date in 1971, reports UNB. Jasod MP Shirin Akter (Feni-1) placed the motion in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, which was passed by voice vote following a marathon discussion over the proposal. Immediately after placement of the proposal, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the floor and showed many videos and images depicting the horror visited upon an unarmed civilian population by a professional armed force that disgraced itself Shirin Akter in her proposal said the March 25, 1971 is a horrible day in the life of Bengalis. Like cowards, the Pakistani army unleashed their ferocity on a sleeping population in the dark of night. "History's worst genocide occurred in the form of military crackdown 'Operation Searchlight' conducted by General Tikka Khan, as per the directives of military ruler Yahya," she said.
The Pakistani army had started the crackdown aiming to annihilate the Bengali nation and their actions amounted to 'genocide as defined by the United Nations', the Jasod MP said.
Shirin Akter proposed that Parliament adopt a motion to declare March 25 as Genocide Day to recognise the genocide carried out in Bangladesh in 1971, and to take necessary steps to gather international recognition for it.
Joining the discussion on the motion, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed cited many international news and reports published in 1971 and following years depicting ferocity of Pakistani forces and claiming that more than 30 lakh, or 3 million Bangladeshis were killed in the Liberation War.
"The most surprising matter is that Khaleda Zia raised question about the number of martyred. But there is no doubt about the number of martyred," he said citing many international news. He also proposed to observe December 1 as the Freedom Fighter Day.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad MP said what the Pakistani forces did on March 25 in 1971 certainly amounted to genocide, as they wanted to annihilate the nation. "I believe it will get international recognition one day." He said his life's greatest regret is that he could not join the Liberation War, as he was in West Pakistan for the duration of the war.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said it was a world record that on average highest number of people were killed per day in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Earlier on February 15, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned that 25th March is certainly a Genocide Day and underscored the need for pursuing different international organisations to get its international recognition. On the same day, Tofail Ahmed had initiated the discussion referring to the misleading information of a book titled 'Creation of Bangladesh: Myths Exploded' by Junaed Ahmed published from Karachi in Pakistan. Tofail had demanded the House declare 25th March as the Genocide Day.

JS declares March 25 as Genocide Day

Parliament yesterday unanimously adopted a motion to declare March 25 as Genocide Day (Gonohotya Dibas), mark the start of atrocities unleashed by the Pakistani occupation forces on the people of then-East Pakistan on this date in 1971, reports UNB. Jasod MP Shirin Akter (Feni-1) placed the motion in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, which was passed by voice vote following a marathon discussion over the proposal. Immediately after placement of the proposal, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the floor and showed many videos and images depicting the horror visited upon an unarmed civilian population by a professional armed force that disgraced itself Shirin Akter in her proposal said the March 25, 1971 is a horrible day in the life of Bengalis. Like cowards, the Pakistani army unleashed their ferocity on a sleeping population in the dark of night. Historys worst genocide occurred in the form of military crackdown Operation Searchlight conducted by General Tikka Khan, as per the directives of military ruler Yahya, she said. The Pakistani army had started the crackdown aiming to annihilate the Bengali nation and their actions amounted to genocide as defined by the United Nations, the Jasod MP said. Shirin Akter proposed that Parliament adopt a motion to declare March 25 as Genocide Day to recognise the genocide carried out in Bangladesh in 1971, and to take necessary steps to gather international recognition for it. Joining the discussion on the motion, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed cited many international news and reports published in 1971 and following years depicting ferocity of Pakistani forces and claiming that more than 30 lakh, or 3 million Bangladeshis were killed in the Liberation War. The most surprising matter is that Khaleda Zia raised question about the number of martyred. But there is no doubt about the number of martyred, he said citing many international news. He also proposed to observe December 1 as the Freedom Fighter Day. Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad MP said what the Pakistani forces did on March 25 in 1971 certainly amounted to genocide, as they wanted to annihilate the nation. I believe it will get international recognition one day. He said his lifes greatest regret is that he could not join the Liberation War, as he was in West Pakistan for the duration of the war. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said it was a world record that on average highest number of people were killed per day in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Earlier on February 15, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned that 25th March is certainly a Genocide Day and underscored the need for pursuing different international organisations to get its international recognition. On the same day, Tofail Ahmed had initiated the discussion referring to the misleading information of a book titled Creation of Bangladesh: Myths Exploded by Junaed Ahmed published from Karachi in Pakistan. Tofail had demanded the House declare 25th March as the Genocide Day.