Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged people both in the country and around the world to work towards building an inclusive society free from all forms of discrimination and communalism.
On the occasion of ‘Genocide Day’ on March 25, she expressed this call in a speech.
The Prime Minister said, “March 25 is ‘Genocide Day’. On March 25, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the most barbaric genocides in the world in Bangladesh. I recall with deep sorrow the brave martyrs who, with their fresh blood, inspired the freedom-loving Bengalis to wage war until they achieved independence.”
Sheikh Hasina said, “We do not want war and conflict; the killing of men, women, and children deeply hurts us. We do not want war; we believe in peace. When firm peace prevails, the overall development of the country accelerates. In the field of state management, we follow the policy of peace of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
She stated, “Bangabandhu transformed the party into a well-organized and powerful one after assuming office and prepared the entire nation for independence. Under the leadership of the father of the nation, Awami League secured an absolute majority in the National Assembly in the 1970 elections. However, the Pak military junta started various maneuvers to transfer power. Through a clandestine conspiracy in the name of a meeting, unarmed Bengalis were involved in a covert conspiracy to kill.”
Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib called for a non-cooperation movement from March 2; in his historic speech on March 7, he provided a clear outline of liberation from 23 years of oppression and tyranny and urged compliance with the directives from March 15. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib’s directives were meticulously followed in East Bengal. All administrative, political, and economic activities of Bangladesh are carried out in his guiding path.”
She added, “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to the independent motherland on January 10, 1972, from the solitary confinement of Pakistani jails, after securing release. With empty hands, he brought back the displaced people with the help of friendly nations, reinstated the infrastructure, and revitalized and strengthened the production sector and economy. Within just three years, the United Nations recognized Bangladesh as a least developed country. Unfortunately, after ’71, the defeated anti-liberation clique started a vicious cycle against Bangabandhu.”
Sheikh Hasina said, “On March 25, in the middle of the night, Yahya secretly left Dhaka amidst non-cooperation movement. In the middle of the night, Pakistani soldiers started ‘Operation Searchlight’ with armored tanks to start killing unarmed Bengalis. They carried out relentless attacks on students-teachers, Bengali police, and military personnel in Dhaka University, Pilkhana, and Rajarbagh. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was arrested in the early hours of March 26. Even before its deployment, the father of the nation conveyed the ultimate victory message, ‘This may be my last message; today Bangladesh is independent. — Continue the fight until the final victory.’ This message was first broadcast via EPR’s wireless and soon spread nationwide through Awami League and Chhatra League leaders and activists. The Pakistanis launched inhuman atrocities against the captive leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib; they even attempted to kill him. On June 13, Pakistani journalist Anthony Mascarenhas published an extensive article titled ‘Genocide’ on the front page of The Sunday Times in the United Kingdom, depicting the brutal reality of the Pakistanis’ most barbaric genocide against Bengalis.”
She stated, “We have recognized March 25 as ‘Genocide Day’. We have provided shelter to more than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees, fearing violence in Myanmar, in neighboring Myanmar. We have protested against any organized genocide anywhere in the world. We are working under the ‘zero tolerance’ policy to eliminate terrorism and extremism. Bangladesh has already developed into a progressive country. Bangladesh will be a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ in 2041. We are implementing the ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100…’
