Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has termed the genocide of March 25, 1971 as a “pre-planned” bloodbath and appealed to construct a state and society of “equality, human dignity and social justice,” within the spirit of the Liberation Battle.
Calling it as “one of the crucial disgraceful and brutal days” within the historical past of Bangladesh, Mr. Rahman, in a message on X, additionally mentioned it’s important to know in regards to the genocide of March 25 to convey the worth and significance of independence to the current and future generations.
The 1971 warfare | The liberation of Bangladesh, 50 years in the past
The Pakistani military launched ‘Operation Searchlight’ on March 25, 1971 to suppress the Bengali folks’s requires self-determination in erstwhile East Pakistan, killing over 20,000 folks in Dhaka alone.
Formally, three million folks had been killed within the subsequent nine-month Liberation Battle.
Bangladesh observes Genocide Day to pay homage to the victims.
Mr. Rahman’s message on Tuesday (March 24), on the eve of the Genocide Remembrance Day, mentioned: “The genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned bloodbath. Why this organised killing spree couldn’t be resisted stays a matter of historic analysis relating to the seen position of the political management of that point.” “Allow us to all attempt to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by establishing within the state and society the spirit of the nice Liberation Battle – equality, human dignity and social justice,” he added.
Recalling the occasions of “that darkish evening,” Mr. Rahman mentioned the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the crucial heinous genocides in historical past towards the unarmed folks of Bangladesh within the identify of ‘Operation Searchlight’.
“They indiscriminately opened fireplace on academics, intellectuals and harmless civilians at numerous locations, together with Dhaka College, Pilkhana and Rajarbāgh Police Strains, killing many individuals,” the Prime Minister described.
Sacrifices of the martyrs throughout Liberation Battle
Calling it as a “pre-planned bloodbath,” and elevating questions as to why the organised killing spree couldn’t be resisted at the moment, Mr. Rahman additional mentioned, “On the evening of 25 March, the eighth East Bengal Regiment in Chattogram formally initiated armed resistance towards the genocide by declaring ‘We Revolt’. By way of this resistance to genocide, the lengthy nine-month armed Liberation Battle started.” “To convey the worth and significance of independence to the current and future generations, it’s important to know in regards to the genocide of 25 March as effectively,” he mentioned.
“Allow us to all attempt to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by establishing within the state and society the spirit of the nice Liberation Battle – equality, human dignity and social justice. Allow us to work collectively to construct a simply, developed, affluent, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh,” he added.
The warfare in 1971 that broke out after the sudden crackdown at midnight on March 25, 1971 by the Pakistani troops, ended on December 16.
As a part of the crackdown in what was then east Pakistan, in addition they arrested Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and took him to what was then known as West Pakistan.
The crackdown prompted Bengali troopers within the Pakistani military and policemen to revolt whereas tens of hundreds of bizarre folks together with faculty and college college students and peasants joined the Liberation Battle, crucially backed by India.
Pakistan conceded defeat in December 1971 and unconditionally surrendered in Dhaka to the allied forces comprising the liberty fighters and Indian troopers.
Bangladesh celebrates Independence Day on March 26.
Other than PM Rahman, President Mohammad Shahabuddin Ahmed additionally issued statements mourning the deaths of these killed within the 9 month Liberation Battle.
Each the Prime Minister and the President are anticipated to pay tributes to their reminiscence by laying wreaths on the Nationwide Memorial on the outskirts of the capital on Thursday (March 26)
Tarique Rahman’s Independence Day message
Bangladesh’s military, navy and air drive will maintain the standard Independence Day parade, together with a fly-past, on the Nationwide Parade Sq. whereas a civic reception will likely be held at Bangabhaban presidential palace later within the day.
On Wednesday (March 25), Mr. Rahman known as March 26 as “a wonderful and historic day” within the nation’s nationwide life and remembered with “profound respect” those that sacrificed their lives for independence.
“The Nice Independence Day evokes us anew with the spirit of braveness, sacrifice and patriotism. The basic aim of independence was to determine a Bangladesh that’s free from discrimination, and to be democratic, peaceable and affluent,” he mentioned in a publish on X on Wednesday.
Calling folks of Bangladesh to uphold the spirit of nationwide unity, mutual tolerance and patriotism to additional speed up the progress and improvement, he mentioned, “Collectively, allow us to work to construct a developed, affluent and dignified Bangladesh.”
Printed – March 26, 2026 05:30 am IST