Nation set to observe Mass Killing Day
Dhaka: The national is set to officially observe the ‘Mass Killing Day’ for the first time on Saturday, commemorating the cowardly attack on Bangalees and mass killing in Dhaka by the Pakistani occupation forces on March 25 in 1971.
On March 11, Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution to observe March 25 as the Mass Killing Day. The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification on Tuesday in this regard.
On the black night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to the mass killing in Dhaka to implement their blueprint to thwart the Awami League’s assumption of office following the election mandate of 1970.
In the attack dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani forces mercilessly killed the Bangalee members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people.
They killed people indiscriminately, set fire to houses and property and looted business establishments, leaving a trail of destruction.
Different political and socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.
Ruling Awami League (AL) will organise two separate rallies in the capital to observe the day.
A photography exhibition titled ‘Bloody 25th March: Mass Killing History’ will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan marking the day.
Besides, cultural and discussion programmes on the Liberation War will be held at every district and upazila.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, the President said the mass killing carried out by the Pakistani army was a barbaric incident in the history of Bangladesh.
Mentioning that the decision to observe March 25 as the Mass Killing Day is a historic milestone, he said it is a symbol of ultimate protest against the barbaric killings of Pakistani army during the Liberation War.
“Bangladesh is heading towards the development and prosperity breaking all barriers imbued with the Liberation War spirit. The nation is united and determined today to make hunger and poverty and discrimination -free green sustainable and peaceful ‘Digital Bangladesh,” Hamid added.
The Prime Minister said the Pakistani army swooped on Bangalees with firearms and killed thousands of innocent people on the black night of March 25 in 1971.
They also killed some 30 lakh people with the help of local collaborators during the nine-month war and made some 1 crore people refugees, Hasina said.
However, the people of Bangladesh snatched the victory after the bloody war responding to the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she added.