Mar 25 now Genocide Day

The House last night unanimously adopted a resolution to observe March 25 as Genocide Day.

On this day in 1971, Pakistani army cracked down on the Bangalees and killed them indiscriminately.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Shirin Akter from Feni-1 placed the motion, which was adopted by voice votes amid thumping of desks.

Shirin in her notice proposed taking necessary initiatives to earn international recognition of one of the most brutal genocides in the world committed by the Pakistani occupation forces on the black night of March 25.

A total of 54 MPs, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad, took part in the six-hour discussion.

Participating in the discussion, almost all lawmakers lambasted the BNP, its chief Khaleda Zia and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for their "anti-liberation war role and favouring the Pakistani occupation forces”.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and different other organisations have long been demanding that March 25 be declared as Genocide Day.

While placing the motion, MP Shirin said that like cowards, the Pakistani army had unleashed one of the worst atrocities on unarmed Bangalees in the name of “Operation Searchlight”.

PM Hasina said the recognition of March 25 was crucial as the Pakistan government in recent times repeatedly tried to deny the atrocities its army carried out on the innocent Bangalees.

“Pakistan army carried out the history's most barbaric genocide on Bangalees as their leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed Bangladesh's independence to free the nation from Pakistani subjugation,” she said.

The Pakistan army adopted the scorched earth policy during the Liberation War, Hasina said, adding that no street, alley, university, police line, village and town were spared from their cruelty.

She also blasted Pakistani author Zunaid Ahmed for publishing a book under the supervision of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) distorting the history of Bangladesh's Liberation War.

The PM said the Pakistani rulers could not forget the pain of their defeat in 1971. They thought that Bangladesh as an independent country would be a failed state.

“But Bangladesh now has emerged as a role model of development drawing the attention of the global community ... So, Pakistan now has adopted a new approach to distort the history.

“The brutality of the Pakistan army also vividly came in many books written by former Pakistan army generals,” she said. “Unfortunately a former prime minister raised question on the number of Liberation War martyrs.”

Hasina said the BNP chairperson, even being a former prime minister of the country, expressed her doubt about the number, which has given a scope to the Pakistanis for distorting Bangladesh's history.

Pakistan army started killing innocent Bangalees on March 25, 1971, in Rajarbagh, Dhaka University and Pilkhana areas, which continued across the country until December 16, she added.

Pointing out the exploitation of Pakistani rulers on Bangalees, the PM narrated a report published in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper on representations of Bangalees and non- Bangalees in the army and civil administration.

Hasina observed that Pakistanis still could not regained their senses, that's why they were trying to misguide the people and carrying out propaganda on the War of Independence.

During her speech, Hasina showed many videos and images depicting atrocities unleashed by Pakistani occupation forces on Bangalees on the fateful night of March 25.

Raushan Ershad said the Pakistani army carried out the barbaric atrocities on March 25 killing thousands of people in a bid to destroy the Bangalee nation.

SESSION PROROGUED

The 14th session of parliament was prorogued last night having 32 sittings that began on January 22.

Parliament on March 9 unanimously passed the thanksgiving motion on President Abdul Hamid's speech in the House. A total 231 lawmakers from treasury and opposition bench took part in the discussion for over 64 hours on the motion moved by Chief Whip ASM Feroz on January 23.