The nation is set to observe the Genocide Day today (Friday) in remembrance of the brutality carried out by Pakistani Army on the unarmed Bangalees on the black night of March 25 in 1971 under the infamous "Operation Searchlight".
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the Genocide Day paying rich tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 genocide.
The government has taken elaborate programmes in observance of the day at national level. Different political, social and cultural organisations have also drawn up separate programmes to observe the day with due respect.
A symbolic ‘Black Out’ for one-minute will be observed across the country from 9pm to 9:01pm tonight on March 25 (Friday) to mark the Genocide Day. However, Key Point Installations (KPI) and other emergency installations will remain out of the purview of blackout programme.
This information has been given in the official statement quoting the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs on Thursday.
According to the statement, there will be no decorative lighting in any government, semi-government, autonomous and private buildings or monuments in the country on the night of March 25 during the time of the blackout and throughout the night.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has requested the government and non-government organisations concerned and the public to implement this decision.
Lyrical dramas and cultural programs on genocide and liberation war will be organized all over the country.
Besides, a commemoration and discussion meeting on March 25 will be held in all educational institutions including schools, colleges and madrasas with the voices of eminent persons and heroic freedom fighters. It was also informed that rare photographs and documentaries on the genocide would be displayed in all the city corporations including Dhaka.
According to the statement, on the night of March 25, special prayers will be offered in all the mosques of the country and at other places of worship at convenient times to seek the peace for the souls of the martyrs of the night of 1971. Similar programmes will be held at district and upazila level and also at Bangladesh embassies abroad highlighting the significance of the day.
March 26 is the Independence Day of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh from that day in 1971 took part in a war against Pakistan for independence. Independence of Bangladesh was gained through a nine-month war against the Pakistan Army which resulted in the independence of Bangladesh on December 16 in 1971.
The government on Wednesday announced a week-long programme from March 25 to March 31 to celebrate the ‘Golden Jubilee of the Independence’ of Bangladesh.
