Due to the fear of the second wave of Covid-19 virus Bangladesh observed a 1-minute blackout on Thursday night to observe Genocide Day.
This is the 3rd edition of Genocide Day that Bangladesh is observing since its parliament collectively adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017.
Blackout Observed By Bangladesh
This time there were no outside events organized due to the pandemic. However, a one-minute blackout was observed from 9 p.m to 9:01 p.m all over the country.
A message was given by the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stating “on the 50th anniversary of the Day of Genocide, we promise to support the freedom that we have earned in exchange for the three million martyrs and the honor of two hundred thousand abused mothers and sisters, if necessary, in exchange for our ultimate sacrifices.”
“We must collectively fight for the desire of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, for turning Bangladesh into a hunger-free, non-communal and wealthy nation,” she said.
1971 Bangladesh Genocide
Earlier Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan, which was basically a part of Pakistan. East Pakistan always felt that they were not properly treated. All the funds received by Pakistan were invested in Western Pakistan only.
Forcefully imposing the Urdu Language in the region, high inflation in Eastern Pakistan, all these issues raise a feeling of autonomy among the political party and the people of Eastern Pakistan.
The Betrayal of Pakistan in the 1965 war with India, where they left Eastern Pakistan all alone added heat to the feeling of autonomy.
In the general elections held in the late 1970s, the Awami League under Mujib’s leadership was victoriously forming a clear majority. In western Pakistan, the largest and most successful party was the Pakistan Peoples Party which was headed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He completely opposed Mujib’s demand for greater autonomy.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for independence in 1971 and directed people to launch a campaign of civil disobedience. In response, the president of Pakistan Yahya Khan announced martial law, and Operation Searchlight was declared to curb the political and civil unrest banning the Awami League, and ordering the Army to arrest Mujib and other Bengali leaders and activists.
The genocide lasted from 21 March 1971 to 16 December 1971 (8 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days) in which Three million peoples lost their lives, and around 200,000 and 400,000 Bangladeshi women and girls were raped by the Pakistani Armies.
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