Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, emphasising the need to uphold the spirit of equality, human dignity, and social justice on the occasion of Genocide Day.
In a message on Tuesday, the Prime Minister described 25 March 1971 as one of the most disgraceful and brutal days in the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh.
On that dark night, he said, the Pakistani occupation forces launched “Operation Searchlight”, carrying out one of the most heinous genocides against unarmed Bangladeshis. They indiscriminately opened fire on teachers, intellectuals, and innocent civilians at Dhaka University, Pilkhana, Rajarbagh Police Lines, and other locations, killing countless people.
The prime minister noted that the genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned massacre, adding that why this organised killing spree could not be resisted remains a matter of historical research regarding the visible role of the political leadership of that time.
However, he highlighted that on the night of 25 March, the 8th East Bengal Regiment in Chattogram formally initiated armed resistance against the genocide by declaring, “We Revolt”, which marked the beginning of the nine-month armed Liberation War.
To convey the value and significance of independence to present and future generations, it is essential to know about the genocide of March 25 as well, the prime minister said, urging all to strive to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by establishing the spirit of the Liberation War in state and society.
He called for working together to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant, and democratic Bangladesh.
The prime minister prayed for the forgiveness and eternal peace of the martyrs’ departed souls and wished success to all programmes organised to observe Genocide Day on 25 March.
