Bangladesh Continues to Seek Recognition of 1971 Genocide at United Nations
- According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, on Saturday, during the Awami League’s parliamentary board meeting at her official Ganabhaban residence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on the international community, including the United Nations, to recognize March 25, 1971, as International Genocide Day.
- During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated that the Pakistan occupation forces began committing killings on March 25, 1971, and continued for nine months, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 lakh people and leaving three crore people homeless due to the destruction of their homes. She called for the international community, including the United Nations, to recognize March 25 as International Genocide Day and take appropriate actions.
- According to the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha report, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned that out of the total population of seven crore people at the time, three crore were left homeless and one crore sought refuge in India. She also stated that despite the devastation caused by the war, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman managed to rebuild the country.
- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that despite facing the immense challenge of rebuilding a war-torn country, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman successfully transformed Bangladesh into a developing nation within three years and seven months of his tenure. However, she expressed regret that he was brutally assassinated on August 15, 1975.
- Furthermore, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized that not only was the Father of the Nation assassinated, but his companions and four national leaders were also brutally killed inside Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, 1975. Despite these tragic events, she stated that the sacrifices made by the martyrs were not in vain, as Bangladesh has achieved independence and has since become a developing nation.
- Such was the degree of impunity with which Operation Searchlight was carried out that an officer participating in the operations infamously boasted, “We can kill anyone for anything. We are responsible to none.”
- The genocide was targeted at civilians in predominantly Hindu neighbourhoods in and around the capital Dhaka and on army barracks who were loyal to Bangabandhu and other Bengali political leaders.
- The degree of impunity with which ‘Operation Searchlight’ was conducted is evidenced by the infamous statement made by one of the participating officers who boasted, “We can kill anyone for anything. We are responsible to none.” The genocide specifically targeted civilians in predominantly Hindu neighbourhoods in and around the capital city of Dhaka, as well as army barracks with loyalty to Bangabandhu and other Bengali political leaders.
- The nine-month war resulted in the deaths of an estimated three million Bengali civilians, with over 200,000 women being subjected to sexual violence. Additionally, 10 million people sought refuge in India, and 30-40 million people were internally displaced.
- Despite Bangladesh’s repeated appeals, the United Nations has not yet recognized the 1971 Genocide. In 2019, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, visited Bangladesh and assured the nation that the United Nations would raise the issue of the Pakistani genocide in Bangladesh at the international forum. However, to date, the UN has not recognized the genocide, as reported by The Daily Star.
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