Recognise Mar 25, 1971 as ‘Genocide Day’: Speakers

The atrocities committed on March 25, 1971 beggar all description. The day, when the Pakistani occupation forces unleashed terror and death on unarmed Bengalis, should be recognised as "International Genocide Day", said speakers at an international seminar being held in the capital. On the first day of the seminar on "Genocide -Torture and Liberation War", speakers demanded recognition of March 25, 1971 as the day of genocide, and highlighted the issues of the Liberation War and heroism of Bengalis. The seminar, being held at the Bangla Academy's Abdul Karim Auditorium, was inaugurated by Dr Gowher Rizvi. The programme was chaired by Professor Muntassir Mamun. Among those present were Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, Shahriar Kabir, Thomas A Dine, Brig (Retd) RP Singh, VSM, of India and Jayanta Kumar Ray.

In the second session of the seminar, the Minister for Commerce, Tofail Ahmed, narrated the history of the War of Liberation and highlighted the contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The speakers described the position and support of different countries during the War of Liberation. The speakers discussed the essence of their research papers on the Liberation War and highlighted the history behind the war.

Thomas Dine, a politician and social worker from the USA, said his country provided weapons worth 1.5 billion dollars to Pakistan, which they used in their attempt to destroy the Bengali nation. “In the first 24 hours of Pakistan's murderous crackdown on the Dhaka elite and then mass murders, several US senators understood the news. With American arms, Pakistan’s Army killed as many Bengalis and Hindus as possible,” he added. Thomas Dine feels that Henry Kissinger and Robert Nixon should be brought to justice, though they are dead.

Shahriar Kabir, journalist and human rights activist, said if the United Nations can recognise Myanmar's case as ethnic cleansing and genocide, then it should also recognise March 25, 1971 as "genocide day".

Mejbah Kamal, professor and author, said what Pakistani forces did in 1971 was nothing but atrocities. They killed three million people. Five lakh women were tortured and raped. He highlighted the contribution of farmers to the Liberation War. Brig (Retd) RP Singh, VSM, of India said: “Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, Bangladeshi collaborators are being tried and punished, but the real culprits behind these dastardly crimes are still at large in Pakistan. It is high time the world acknowledges the atrocities committed by the Pakistani army against innocent Bengalis."

 Jayanta Kumar Ray, national research professor of India, said when India provided substantial help to the Bengalis at that time, the USA tried to sabotage it in all possible ways.

 The seminar will end on Sunday (November 26). There will be a total of five sessions. The speakers in the next session will discuss the history of the Liberation War. Experts from the USA, the UK, Egypt, India, Cambodia and Bangladesh, countries directly involved in the Liberation War, will join the seminar.

Recognise Mar 25, 1971 as Genocide Day: Speakers

The atrocities committed on March 25, 1971 beggar all description. The day, when the Pakistani occupation forces unleashed terror and death on unarmed Bengalis, should be recognised as International Genocide Day, said speakers at an international seminar being held in the capital. On the first day of the seminar on Genocide -Torture and Liberation War, speakers demanded recognition of March 25, 1971 as the day of genocide, and highlighted the issues of the Liberation War and heroism of Bengalis. The seminar, being held at the Bangla Academys Abdul Karim Auditorium, was inaugurated by Dr Gowher Rizvi. The programme was chaired by Professor Muntassir Mamun. Among those present were Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, Shahriar Kabir, Thomas A Dine, Brig (Retd) RP Singh, VSM, of India and Jayanta Kumar Ray. In the second session of the seminar, the Minister for Commerce, Tofail Ahmed, narrated the history of the War of Liberation and highlighted the contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The speakers described the position and support of different countries during the War of Liberation. The speakers discussed the essence of their research papers on the Liberation War and highlighted the history behind the war. Thomas Dine, a politician and social worker from the USA, said his country provided weapons worth 1.5 billion dollars to Pakistan, which they used in their attempt to destroy the Bengali nation. In the first 24 hours of Pakistans murderous crackdown on the Dhaka elite and then mass murders, several US senators understood the news. With American arms, Pakistans Army killed as many Bengalis and Hindus as possible, he added. Thomas Dine feels that Henry Kissinger and Robert Nixon should be brought to justice, though they are dead. Shahriar Kabir, journalist and human rights activist, said if the United Nations can recognise Myanmars case as ethnic cleansing and genocide, then it should also recognise March 25, 1971 as genocide day. Mejbah Kamal, professor and author, said what Pakistani forces did in 1971 was nothing but atrocities. They killed three million people. Five lakh women were tortured and raped. He highlighted the contribution of farmers to the Liberation War. Brig (Retd) RP Singh, VSM, of India said: Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government, Bangladeshi collaborators are being tried and punished, but the real culprits behind these dastardly crimes are still at large in Pakistan. It is high time the world acknowledges the atrocities committed by the Pakistani army against innocent Bengalis. Jayanta Kumar Ray, national research professor of India, said when India provided substantial help to the Bengalis at that time, the USA tried to sabotage it in all possible ways. The seminar will end on Sunday (November 26). There will be a total of five sessions. The speakers in the next session will discuss the history of the Liberation War. Experts from the USA, the UK, Egypt, India, Cambodia and Bangladesh, countries directly involved in the Liberation War, will join the seminar.