The Crime Desk: That terrible dark night of March 25 is today. On this night in 1971, a thick layer of death descended on the heart of Bengal. One of the most brutal massacres in the history of the world took place in our beloved homeland. In the darkness of the night, the Pakistani army, like a ferocious hyena, pounced on the innocent and unarmed freedom-seeking Bengali people with barbaric force. As per the pre-planned plan, they started the most heinous massacre and destruction across the country after 10 pm with full military equipment. This killing campaign of the Pakistani invaders was known as ‘Operation Searchlight’ in military language. Avoiding the path of a peaceful solution, President Yahya moved towards implementing the blueprint of killing Bengalis. The black claws of torture, oppression, brutality, atrocities, and violence spread horror throughout the city of Dhaka. This day of barbaric massacre is being observed in Bangladesh as ‘Genocide Day.’ On March 11, 2017, the fourteenth session of the National Parliament declared March 25 as ‘Genocide Day.’
The world was shocked by this barbaric attack and witnessed the massacre of the frenzied Pakistani army. In a medieval style, the invaders carried out massacres and arson in the entire city of Dhaka, including Rajarbagh Police Line, Peelkhana EPR headquarters, and Dhaka University.
The painful incident of the dark night of March 25 shocked the entire nation. The voices of the freedom-loving people could not be silenced by shooting innocent and unarmed people indiscriminately like birds. That horrific massacre inspired the Bengalis to join the struggle for freedom.
On this day in 1971, President General Yahya Khan left the President’s House directly for the airport at 5:45 in the evening. At 7:45 pm, he secretly left Dhaka by plane with orders to launch a cowardly armed attack on innocent Bengalis. The Pakistani occupation forces, under the orders of General Yahya Khan, pounced on the innocent people of Bengal like executioners with machine guns, mortars, and tanks and killed more than 50,000 people in the city.
Various programs have been taken at the national level to observe the Genocide Day on March 25 with due dignity. On March 25, a memorial and discussion meeting on the genocide will be held in all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical colleges across the country, with the participation of eminent persons and heroic freedom fighters. Seminars on the genocide and the liberation war will be held at the Liberation War Museum at 10 am or at a convenient time.
Rare photographs and documentary exhibitions on the genocide have been organized in all city corporations, including Dhaka. In addition, special prayers have been organized at the mosque after Zohar and other places of worship in memory of those killed on the night of March 25, 1971.
A one-minute symbolic blackout will be observed across the country from 10:30 pm to 10:31 pm on March 25 to observe Genocide Day. A seminar has been organized at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy at 3 pm to commemorate the great Independence and National Day and Genocide Day. ‘Genocide Day’ will be observed at Dhaka University on Tuesday. On this occasion, a candlelight vigil, documentary screening, and discussion meeting will be held at the university’s Smriti Chirantan Chattar at 7:15 pm. Candlelight vigil and tributes will be paid at the mass grave located on the Jagannath Hall premises at 8:15 pm. On the occasion of the day, a special prayer will be offered at the university’s central mosque, Masjidul Jamia, after Zohr for the forgiveness of the souls of the martyred intellectuals. At 6:30 pm, candles will be lit in the premises of the Liberation War Museum to commemorate the Black Night.
