Call to observe March 25 as Int'l Genocide Day
Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee lights torches at Central Shaheed Minar at around 10:30pm last night, demanding the observance of March 25 as “International Genocide Day”.Photo: STAR
Lighting torches at Central Shaheed Minar at around 10:30pm last night, Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee demanded observing March 25 as “International Genocide Day”. Meanwhile at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, freedom fighters, politicians and families of the martyred brought out a candlelit procession to pay homage at the killing field there. The attendees, alongside the country, deeply mourned for the innocent and unarmed Bangalees who were massacred by the Pakistani Army on the same night in 1971. At a meeting at Central Shaheed Minar before the procession, speakers urged the government to engage diplomatic efforts in the United Nations and different countries for March 25 to be declared International Massacre Day, says a press release. They also urged all parliament members to take the initiative in this regard. Finance Minister AMA Muhith said he was in Washington on March 25. The time from then on was both of expectation and apprehension. Finally, it was the optimism that emerged strongly after the nine month-long Liberation War, he said. The verdict in the Bangabandhu killing case was implemented and currently ongoing is the war crimes trial, completion of which would rid the nation of the shame of impunity. However, the nation must unite for it, said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. KM Shafiullah, a sector commander, said on the black night, in a span of one and a half hours, the Pakistani forces killed 300 students and teachers at Dhaka University. Awami League Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed said they would place a private bill in parliament to observe the black night as “International Genocide Day”. Just as the Pakistani forces had started their crackdown, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the call of independence, he said. Another sector commander, CR Dutta said being in Pakistan for most of his professional life, he realised what was happening only after arriving home on leave after the Liberation War started, and this was when he joined the war. Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon said the responsibility does not end with the war crimes trial's completion, as the practice of politics by war criminals must also come to an end. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Huq Inu said there was no scope of reaching a compromise with the war criminals as they had not changed even 40 years into the country's independence. Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said the country's people arose after the massacre that night and then began the war of “the Davids against the Goliaths”. Sector Commanders' Forum General Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid said, “To complete the war crimes trial we have to mobilise more strength and overcome its weak points.” Freedom fighter Kamal Lohani chaired the meeting where Muktijoddha Sangsad Chairman Helal Morshed Khan and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promode Mankin also spoke.
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