Today is March 25 and the nation today recalls with horror the night 38 years ago in 1971 when the Pakistani military junta began one of the history’s worst genocides in the erstwhile East Pakistan leading to a nine-month war of independence of Bangladesh.

Tanks rolled out of the Dhaka cantonment and a sleeping city woke up to the rattles of gunfire as the Pakistan army attacked halls of Dhaka University, the then EPR (now BDR) headquarters and the Rajarbagh police lines this night in 1971 as part of the Pakistani military’s ‘Operation Search Light,’ killing several thousand unarmed Bangalis in a single night.

Just before the operation, the Pakistani rulers arrested Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh at his house at Dhanmondi.

Different socio-cultural and educational organisations have chalked up elaborate programmes, including placing wreaths, discussions, lighting candles, and holding cultural functions, to mark in the city and elsewhere in the country to mark the occasion.

Ekattarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee will bring out a candlelight procession from the Central Shaheed Minar at 8:00pm today. The Dhaka University Alumni Association will hold a commemorative meeting and light candles at 5:00pm at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Students of the University of Development Alternative, College of Development Alternative and School of Development Alternative will hold an open painting session between sunset of Wednesday and dawn of Thursday on Manik Miah Avenue. There will also be a session of people’s songs.

The nation will celebrate 39th Independence and National Day tomorrow.

Sources:
News: New Age
Photos: Focus Bangla