March 26 should be declared the “Genocide Day” to commemorate the nation's battle for independence against the Pakistani occupation forces that killed some three million Bangladeshis in 1971.

“It is the heartfelt demand of the country's 16 crore people that the day [March 26] is announced the genocide day,” said Rana Das Gupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad.

Rana made the demand at a programme organised by Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee on the Jatiya Shaheed Minar premises last night on the eve of the nation's 45th Independence Day.

Over a dozen political, cultural and social organisations attended the programme titled “The dark night of genocide”.

A torch procession was brought out from the Shaheed Minar premises following the rally around 9:00pm. Before that, 45 torches and hundreds of candles were lighted on the Shaheed Minar premises.

Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the committee, emphasised on calling the day genocide day as, he said, some BNP leaders recently doubted the number of martyrs. He also urged the government to quicken its process of formulating a law similar to that of the Holocaust Denial Act to prevent any attempt to deny justice to the genocide victims.

“On this night 45 years ago, the army offensive, known as Operation Searchlight, was carried out in Dhaka, and students, teachers and employees of Dhaka University, members of police at its headquarters and the Hindu people living in the old part of the city were mowed down,” recalled Kabir.

The genocide victims, freedom fighters and their family members also attended yesterday's programme. Shaheedjaya Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, widow of martyr Dr Alim Chowdhury, was one of the participants.

“We saw how the genocide began on this night and then it continued for the next nine months until the war was won,” Shyamoli said.

Speakers at the program also called for banning Jamaat-e-Islami.

Several incumbent ministers, including Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, and state ministers also attended the event.

 “We need the international community on our side for bringing the 195 Pakistani army officers, accused of being involved in the genocide, to book,” said CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim.

Meanwhile, on this occasion, Grameenphone organised a programme named “Alor Jatra” on Manik Mia Avenue in the city last night. Hundreds of people attended the programme that began around 10:30pm.