‘Pre-planned massacre by Pak forces’: Bangladesh PM on March 1971 genocide

In a message on social media, Rahman, who completed a month in office last week, said, “March 25, 1971 is observed as Genocide Day. On the occasion of Genocide Day, I pay my deepest respect to all the martyrs. In the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh, 25 March 1971 remains one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. On that dark night, the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the most heinous genocides in history against the unarmed people of Bangladesh in the name of ‘Operation Searchlight’. They indiscriminately opened fire on teachers, intellectuals and innocent civilians at various places, including Dhaka University, Pilkhana and Rajarbāgh Police Lines, killing many people.”

“The genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned massacre … through this resistance to genocide, the long nine-month armed Liberation War began,” the Bangladesh PM said.

“To convey the value and significance of independence to the present and future generations, it is essential to know about the genocide of 25 March as well. Let us all strive to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by establishing in the state and society the spirit of the great Liberation War — equality, human dignity and social justice,” he said.

Rahman’s mother and former PM late Khaleda Zia, while in Opposition in 2017, had sparked a controversy by raising doubts about the numbers of martyrs.

Speaking at a discussion, Khaleda Zia had expressed doubts about the casualty figures from Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Officially, three million people were killed during the nine-month-long war against Pakistan.

“There are controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There are also many books and documents on the controversies,” Zia had said in a public address, sparking a nationwide uproar.

A Bangladesh court had summoned her at that time for what was called “slanderous comments” and she was asked to appear in person hours after a case was lodged accusing her of treason. With Tarique Rahman as PM, he is seen to be reclaiming the space of the party that is seen to be pro-Liberation War and was traditionally occupied by the Awami League. There was some apprehension about BNP not continuing the genocide day commemoration, but the Tarique has chosen to continue the tradition.