The government of Bangladesh has been urging the United Nations to consider March 25 as World Genocide Day. March 25 marks the day when the Army of Pakistan attacked unarmed individuals at night. The incident marks the start of a nine-month-long war, which resulted in the brutal murder of almost 9 Million people in the country,
The Deputy High Commissioner of the country, Andalib Elias, made these remarks on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Meanwhile, He noted that in 1971, Bangladesh witnessed the most brutal genocide in the history of the world. The Deputy High commissioner of Bangladesh also asserted that they have been observing March 25 as the National Genocide Day of Bangladesh since 2017.
With this gesture, the government wants the UN to recognize what happened in the country in 1971 as genocide and commemorate the day (March 25) as World Genocide Day. Bangladesh came into existence later in the year after the nation recieved support from the then-Indira Gandhi-led national armed forces.
Pakistan surrendered in front of the joint forces of India and Bangladesh on December 16, 1971. Following the surrender, Bangladesh received the status of an independent country under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the president of the country. Notably, the people of Bangladesh are seeking support from the international community to get justice for the genocide in 1971.
The International Forum for Secular Bangladesh (IFSB) Switzerland chapter staged a demonstration in the broken chair square in front of the UN Building. Several members of the Bangladeshi diaspora from Europe gathered in front of the UN building. They registered their issues in front of the international organization. They urged them to commemorate World Genocide day in honour of ‘Operation Searchlight‘ that the Pakistan Army launched in Dhaka to crush the Bengali nationalist movement.
Additionally, several prominent freedom fighters took part in the protest. Some of these names include Tazul Islam, a freedom fighter from Zurich, Leaders of all European Freedom Fighters Sangsad of the country, Awami League members of Switzerland, and other International NGOs urged the UN Human Rights Council to recognize March 25 as “Bangladesh genocide day”.
