Take steps for int'l recognition of March 25

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee yesterday urged the government to take proper initiatives for international recognition of March 25 which is now being observed as Genocide Day in the country.

The committee made the call last night at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, at a programme commemorating the brutal attack carried out by the Pakistan occupation forces on unarmed Bengalis on the night of March 25, 1971.

Genocide Day was observed officially for the third time in the country after the parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017 in this regard.

“The world must know about the mass murder carried out by the Pakistani army with the help of their collaborators including Jamaat, Muslim League and Nezam-E-Islam,” eminent historian Prof Muntassir Mamoon, vice president of the committee, said while reading out a declaration paper at the event.

“The government is yet to take necessary initiative for the international recognition of the black night [March 25],” he claimed. 

He urged the Liberation War affairs and foreign affairs ministries to take formal measures for the international recognition of the massacre.

In her speech, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said December 9 is observed as “International Genocide Day” but the UN should take initiative to recognise the massacre of our people on the night of March 25.

She said the government has already taken a plan to introduce the incident to the global community and draw their attention for official recognition. 

With the committee Vice President Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury in the chair, the event was also attended by Sector Commanders' Forum President Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah Bir Uttam, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and others.