Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman calls March 25, 1971 genocide as ‘pre-planned massacre’

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman condemns March 25, 1971, as a pre-planned genocide, urging unity for equality and justice.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has termed the genocide of March 25, 1971 as a “pre-planned” massacre and appealed to build a state and society of “equality, human dignity and social justice,” in the spirit of the Liberation War.

Calling it as “one of the most disgraceful and brutal days” in the history of Bangladesh, Mr. Rahman, in a message on X, also said it is essential to know about the genocide of March 25 to convey the value and significance of independence to the present and future generations.

The 1971 war | The liberation of Bangladesh, 50 years ago

The Pakistani army launched ‘Operation Searchlight’ on March 25, 1971 to suppress the Bengali people’s calls for self-determination in erstwhile East Pakistan, killing over 20,000 people in Dhaka alone.

Officially, three million people were killed in the subsequent nine-month Liberation War.

Bangladesh observes Genocide Day to pay homage to the victims.