Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day

National day observed on 25 March in Bangladesh to commemorate the victims of the Bengali genocide

Genocide Remembrance Day
গণহত্যা স্মরণ দিবস

National Martyrs' Memorial

Observed by| Bangladesh
Bangladeshi diaspora
Type| National
Significance| Commemoration of the Bengali Genocide
Date| 25 March
Frequency| annual
First time| 2017[1][2]

The Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day (Bengali: বাঙালি গণহত্যা স্মরণ দিবস Bāṅgāli Gaṇahatyā Smaraṇ Dibas / Bangali Gonohotta Shoron Dibosh) or the Bangladesh Genocide Memorial Day is a national day observed on 25 March in Bangladesh to commemorate the victims of the Bengali genocide of 1971, approved unanimously in 2017.[2][3][4]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 International recognition
* 3 Gallery
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## History[edit]

Main articles: Bengali genocide, Operation Searchlight, and Bangladesh Liberation War

The date 25 March commemorates Operation Searchlight, a planned military pacification carried out by the Pakistan Army, started on 25 March to curb the Bengali independence movement by taking control of the major cities on 26 March, and then eliminating all opposition, political or military,[5] within one month. Before the beginning of the operation, all foreign journalists were systematically deported from East Pakistan.[6][7]

On 11 March 2017, the Parliament of Bangladesh unanimously passed the Resolution designating 25 March as a Genocide Remembrance Day.[8][9] The day honours and remembers those who suffered and died as a consequence of killings by the Pakistani Army on 25 March 1971, which started with Operation Searchlight and ended with the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide and the Independence of Bangladesh.[10][11][12][13] During this period the persecution of the Bengali population by Pakistan army led by General A. A. K. Niazi was notable. It is believed this was on account of the contempt the dominant Punjabi Pakistanis had for Bengalis, there was mounting evidence that among the Bengalis, the Hindu minority was doubly marked out for persecution. In a post-war enquiry several senior Pakistani officers admitted to systematic targeting of the community on the orders from a brigadier which General Niazi denied.[14]

"Bangladesh will reach out to UN seeking recognition of the 1971 Genocide while the government declared March 25 as Genocide Day", according to Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq.[15]

## International recognition[edit]

The government of Bangladesh is working on achieving global recognition of March 25 as “Bangladesh’s Genocide Day." Genocide Watch and Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issued statements on the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971 perpetrated against Bangladeshi people by Pakistani Army. These statements will strengthen and accelerate Bangladesh's commitment to achieve global recognition of “Genocide Day”[16]

## Gallery[edit]

* Location of Bengali and Pakistani military units during Operation Searchlight

* The Jallad Khana Memorial at one of the killing fields in Mirpur

* Human remains and war material in Liberation War Museum

* A sculpture in Meherpur showing the execution of Bengali intellectuals by the Pakistan Army

* Monument in honor of those killed at Dhaka University

## See also[edit]

* Martyred Intellectuals Day
* Language Movement Day
* Independence Day (Bangladesh)
* Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Whole nation should observe National Genocide Day". New Age. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
2. ^ a b "Bangladesh declares March 25 as Genocide Day". NTV. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
3. ^ "PM slams Pakistan for propaganda about '71 genocide". The Daily Star. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
4. ^ "Declare March 25 as Genocide Day". The Daily Sun. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
5. ^ Salik, Siddiq, Witness To Surrender, pp 63, 228–9 ISBN 984-05-1373-7
6. ^ Siddiqui, Asif (December 1997). "From Deterrence and Coercive Diplomacy to War: The 1971 Crisis in South Asia". Journal of International and Area Studies. 4 (1): 73–92. JSTOR 43106996.
7. ^ "JS may be moved to mark March 25 as Genocide Day". The Daily Sun. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
8. ^ "Parliament passes motion to mark March 25 as Genocide Day". The Daily Star. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
9. ^ "Parliament declares March 25 Genocide Day". Dhaka Tribune. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
10. ^ "Jatiya Sangsad declares March 25 as 'Gonohotya Dibosh'". Bangla Mirror. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
11. ^ "Parliament declares March 25 as "Gonohotya Dibosh"". Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
12. ^ "14-party alliance to observe March 25 as 'Genocide Day'". Nirapad News. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
13. ^ "JS resolution on Day of Genocide hailed". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
14. ^ Bass, Gary J. (2014). The Blood Telegram: India's Secret War in East Pakistan. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 9789353051853.
15. ^ "News Details". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
16. ^ Dhaka appreciates Genocide Watch’s statement, Dhaka Tribune, 9 February 2022

* v
* t
* e

Bangladesh Liberation War

Ministry of Liberation War Affairs

Origins of the Bangladeshi Revolution

| Philosophy|

* Bengali Renaissance
* Muslim nationalism in South Asia
* Two-nation theory
* Bengali nationalism
* Bengal studies
* Bangamata
* Joy Bangla

|

Pakistan Movement|

* Partition of Bengal (1905)
* Eastern Bengal and Assam
* All-India Muslim League
* Indian independence movement
* Pakistan Movement
* Lahore Resolution
* United Bengal
* Muslim National Guard
* Direct Action Day
* Noakhali riots
* Partition of India
* Partition of Bengal (1947)

East Pakistan|

* Dominion of Pakistan
* East Bengal
* Pakistan Muslim League
* Objectives Resolution
* All Pakistan Awami Muslim League
* Awami League
* United Front
* Bengali language movement
* One Unit
* East Pakistan
* Constitution of Pakistan of 1956
* 1958 Pakistani coup d'état
* Constitution of Pakistan of 1962

Bengali self-determination|

* Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Parishad
* Six point movement
* Agartala Conspiracy Case
* 1969 uprising in East Pakistan
* 1970 Bhola cyclone
* 1970 Pakistani general election

Declaration of war|

* Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech of 7 March
* Non-cooperation movement
* Rodionov message
* Admiral Ahsan Mission
* Operation Searchlight
* Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence

* Combatants
* Campaigns
* Theaters
* Battles
* Events
* Massacres

| Combatants|

| Bangladesh|

* Provisional Government of Bangladesh
* Mukti Bahini
* Bangladesh Army
* K Force
* S Force
* Z Force
* Bangladesh Navy
* Bangladesh Air Force
* Bangladesh Rifles
* Bangladesh Ansar
* Bangladesh Police

* Special Guerrilla Forces
* Gono Bahini
* Mujib Bahini
* Kader Bahini
* Baten Bahini
* Afsar Bahini
* Hemayet Bahini
* Crack Platoon

|

Pakistan|

* Pakistan Armed Forces
* Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
* Jamaat-e-Islami
* Central Peace Committee
* Razakars
* Al-Badr
* Al-Shams

Indian allies|

* Parliament of India
* Indian Armed Forces
* Army, Navy, Air Force
* Mitro Bahini (Indo-Bangali group)

Campaigns and
theaters

* Pakistan Eastern Command
* Operation Searchlight
* Operation Barisal
* Cable 1971
* Sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War
* Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War
* Eastern Command (India)
* Bangladesh War timeline
* Meghna Heli Bridge
* Operation Jackpot
* Mutiny on PNS Mangro in Toulon
* Operation Python
* Operation Trident
* Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971
* Mitro Bahini Order of Battle December 1971
* Sinking of PNS Ghazi
* East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971
* Operation Chengiz Khan
* Operation Cactus-Lilly

Major battles|

* Battle of Daruin
* Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway
* Battle of Goalhati
* Battle of Dhalai Outpost
* Battle of Dhalai
* Battle of Ajmiriganj
* Battle of Garibpur
* Battle of Hilli
* Battle of Longewala
* Battle of Basantar
* Battle of Kushtia
* Battle of Boyra
* Battle of Atgram

Other events|

* Blood Telegram
* 1971 Bangladesh genocide
* 1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals
* Rape during the Bangladesh Liberation War
* Refugees in India
* Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
* Shadhin Bangla Football Team
* The Concert for Bangladesh
* Album
* Film

List of Massacres|

* 1971 Dhaka University massacre
* Shankharibazar massacre
* Ramna massacre
* Sutrapur massacre
* Jinjira massacre
* Akhira massacre
* Jathibhanga massacre
* Demra massacre
* Chuknagar massacre
* Madhyapara massacre
* Bakhrabad massacre
* Burunga massacre
* Sohagpur massacre
* more

Related conflicts|

* Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
* Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971

Leaders

| Bangladesh|

| Military|

* M. A. G. Osmani
* Ziaur Rahman
* Khaled Mosharraf
* K M Shafiullah
* Shafaat Jamil
* A. K. Khandker
* Muhammad Hamidullah Khan
* Matiur Rahman

|

Civilian|

* Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
* Syed Nazrul Islam
* Tajuddin Ahmad
* AHM Qamaruzzaman
* Muhammad Hamidullah Khan
* Serajul Alam Khan
* Dhirendranath Datta
* Kazi Nuruzzaman
* Chitta Ranjan Dutta
* Muhammad Mansur Ali
* Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
* M. A. Hannan
* Abu Sayeed Chowdhury

Pakistan|

| Military|

* Yahya Khan
* Tikka Khan
* S.M. Ahsan
* A.K. Niazi
* Yaqub Ali Khan
* Mohammad Shariff
* Rao Farman Ali
* A.O. Mitha
* Khadim Hussain
* Mitty Masud
* Ahmad Zamir
* Inamul Haque
* Siddique Salik
* K.M. Arif

|

Civilian|

* Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
* Dr. Abdul Motaleb Malik
* Nurul Amin
* Shah Azizur Rahman
* Ghulam Azam
* Motiur Rahman Nizami
* J.A. Rahim
* Tridev Roy

Indian allies|

| Military|

* Indian Army
* Sam Manekshaw
* Jagjit Singh Aurora
* Hari Chand Dewan
* Nilakanta Krishnan
* J. F. R. Jacob
* Om Prakash Malhotra
* Sagat Singh
* Inderjit Singh Gill
* Shabeg Singh
* K. Sankaran Nair
* Hoshiar Singh Dahiya

|

Civilian|

* Indira Gandhi
* V. V. Giri
* Gopal Swarup Pathak
* Rameshwar Kao
* Swaran Singh
* Jagjivan Ram
* Dilip Mahalanabis

Aftermath

* Pakistani Instrument of Surrender
* International recognition of Bangladesh
* Simla Agreement
* Delhi Agreement
* Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh
* Hamoodur Rahman Commission
* War Report
* 1971 Prisoners of War Investigation
* Bangladeshi nationalism
* Bangladesh–India relations
* Indira-Mujib Treaty
* 2001 Indo-Bangla skirmishes
* Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border
* Bangladesh–Pakistan relations
* 2013 Pakistan Embassy siege
* 2015 Expulsion of Pakistani diplomats from Dhaka

* Related topics
* Categories

| Commemoration|

| Monuments and memorials|

* National Martyrs’ Memorial
* Martyred Intellectuals Memorial
* Swadhinata Stambha
* Liberation War Memorial Trust
* Liberation War Museum
* Bangladesh Police Liberation War Museum
* Aparajeyo Bangla
* Shabash Bangladesh

|

Anniversaries|

* Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day
* Independence Day (Bangladesh)
* Armed Forces Day (Bangladesh)
* Martyred Intellectuals Day
* Victory day of Bangladesh
* Vijay Diwas (India)

Decorations and depictions|

* Muktijuddho e-Archive
* Artistic depictions
* Awards and decorations

Trials|

* 2013 Shahbag protests
* Movement demanding trial of war criminals (Bangladesh)
* International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)
* War Crimes Fact Finding Committee

Categories|

* Liberation War
* Genocide
* Aftermath
* Films
* Causes and prelude
* Battles
* Peoples
* Military personnel

* v
* t
* e

1971 Bangladesh genocide

Perpetrators|

| Organizers|

* Yahya Khan
* Tikka Khan
* Rao Farman Ali

|

Executors|

* Abdul Quader Molla
* Abul Kalam Azad
* Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed
* Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
* Fazlul Quader Chowdhury
* Ghulam Azam
* Motiur Rahman Nizami
* Muhammad Kamaruzzaman
* Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury
* Ashrafuz Zaman Khan
* Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin

Organizations|

* Pakistan Army
* Jamaat-e-Islami
* Razakars
* East Pakistan Central Peace Committee
* Al Badr
* Al Shams

Massacres|

| Barisal Division|

* Barguna
* Bhimnali
* Gabha Narerkathi
* Ketnar Bil
* Suryamani

|

Chittagong Division|

* Comilla Cantonment
* Muzaffarabad
* Pomara
* Bakhrabad

Dhaka Division|

* Bakchar
* Baria
* Char Bhadrasan
* Dhaka University
* Hasamdia
* Ishangopalpur
* Jandi
* Jinjira
* Madhyapara
* Nikli
* Ramna
* Satanikhil
* Sendia
* Shankharibazar
* Sree Angan
* Sutrapur
* Terosree massacre

Khulna Division|

* Chuknagar
* Dakra
* Shankharikathi

Rajshahi Division|

* Bagbati
* Demra
* Karai Kadipur
* Gopalpur
* Jogisho and Palsha

Rangpur Division|

* Akhira
* Dhapdhup
* Golahat
* Jathibhanga
* Kaliganj

Sylhet Division|

* Adityapur
* Burunga
* Galimpur
* Krishnapur
* Makalkandi
* Naria

Notable victims|

* Altaf Mahmud
* Anudvaipayan Bhattacharya
* Anwar Pasha
* Dhirendranath Datta
* Govinda Chandra Dev
* Harinath Dey
* Jogesh Chandra Ghosh
* Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta
* Laxman Das
* Mufazzal Haider Chaudhury
* Munier Choudhury
* Ranada Prasad Saha
* Santosh Chandra Bhattacharya
* Selina Parvin
* Shahidullah Kaiser
* more

Protests|

* Movement demanding trial of war criminals
* 2013 Shahbag protests

Trials|

* Hamoodur Rahman Commission
* International Crimes Tribunal

Related events|

* Bangladesh Liberation War
* Blood Telegram
* Concert for Bangladesh
* Operation Searchlight
* Persecution of Biharis
* Persecution of Hindus
* Rape during the Bangladesh Liberation War
* Remembrance Day

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