Muktijudho
1971 Genocide Liberation War Affairs Minister seeks international recognition of 1971 genocide
Dhaka: Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Sunday called upon all who believe in Liberation War spirit to be united in realising the international recognition of genocide carried out by the Pakistani army on unarmed Bengalis during 1971 Liberation War.
While addressing a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, the Liberation War Affairs Minister said international recognition of genocide of 1971 could not be realised in 51 years after independence, BSS reported.
However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government declared March 25 as National Genocide Day.
AKM Mozammel Haque has sought international recognition for March 25 as “International Genocide Day” side by side with the existing December 9.
Three organizations, including Bangladesh Support Group, an organisation of the Netherlands expatriate Bangladeshis, Projonmo 71, an organization of children of martyrs, and Amra Ekattor, jointly organised the press conference with a view to attaining United Nations recognition for the genocide launched in Bangladesh.
Amra Ekattor's chief coordinator Hilal Fayezi read out the keynote at the press conference, reports BSS.
Genocide expert and martyr’s offspring Pradip Kumar Dutta and Projonmo 71 President Asif Munir also spoke at the programme.
Haque said Pakistani occupation forces with the cooperation of their local collaborators killed 30 lakh people, during the nine-month Liberation War in 1971, they violated 2 lakh women, set houses on fire and carried out massive looting all over the country, reported BSS.
Meanwhile, Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Genocide Watch, two internationally acclaimed organisations working on the prevention of genocide worldwide, till now, have recognised the 1971 genocide and issued statements to the effect.
In their statements, these organizations have emphatically recognised the mass killings, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by Pakistan and called upon the international community including the United Nations to come forward and recognise the genocide.
On March 26, 1971, Bangladesh was proclaimed an independent nation by the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This led to the Bangladesh Liberation War when a guerilla war ensued between Pakistan and Bangladesh liberation forces with Indian support.
Muktijuddho Mancha is a platform for descendants of freedom fighters, mostly Chhatra League members.
