India to back March 25 as Genocide Day
India will support Bangladeshs effort to obtain international recognition of March 25 as the Genocide Day. The prime minister said in a press statement alongside her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi after their bilateral talks in New Delhi yesterday. We sought support of India in our efforts for recognition of Genocide of 1971 by the international community, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.
For the first time this year, Bangladesh nationally observed Mar 25 as Genocide Day commemorating those killed by the Pakistani occupation forces on that night in 1971. Bangladesh is also lobbying with the United Nations for the global recognition of the day. On the night of Mar 25 in 1971, the Pakistan army launched Operation Searchlight, a brutal and barbaric military assault on an unsuspecting population to crush the Bengali movement for rights and justice that had turned into a fight for freedom in the face of persistent denials. After nine months of the bloody war, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation on the world map on Dec 16. Over three million people were killed and a quarter of a million women and young girls were dishonoured. Indian soldiers also laid down their lives while fighting for Bangladesh in the war against Pakistan. Both leaders recalled the 1971 for which Hasina said we are deeply grateful to India. She also honoured the martyrs of Indian Armed Forces who lost their lives. Modi reciprocated the honour and said the decision to honour Indian soldiers has deeply touched the people of India.
