Bangladesh requests that the United Nations designate March 25 as World Genocide Day

On December 16, 1971, the Pakistan Army surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally establishing Bangladesh as a new nation.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Andalib Elias stated on Saturday that Bangladesh has been requesting that the United Nations declare March 25 as World Genocide Day.

“This day has been designated as Bangladesh genocide day since 2017. We’ve been pursuing two things from the UN: declaring this as World Genocide Day and recognizing what happened in Bangladesh in 1971 as genocide “said Elias.

On December 16, 1971, the Pakistan Army surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally establishing Bangladesh as a new nation under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

“On this day (March 25, 1971), the Pakistani army attacked unarmed people in the middle of the night, killing thousands of people, and killing nine million people in Bangladesh over the next nine months. This is one of the most heinous genocides in history “Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner stated.

Meanwhile, the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh (IFSB) Switzerland chapter held protests on Saturday at the Broken Chair square in front of the UN building in Geneva, demanding recognition of the Bangladesh genocide perpetrated by the Pakistan Army in 1971.

A total of 25 Bangladeshi diasporas from Europe gathered in front of the United Nations office to demand justice for Pakistan’s genocide in 1971 and international recognition.

Since 2017, Bangladesh has observed ‘Genocide Day’ to commemorate the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army against civilians on the night of March 25, 1971, when it launched ‘Operation Searchlight’ in Dhaka to crush the Bengali nationalist movement.

Leaders of all European Freedom Fighter Sangsad of Bangladesh, Awami League members from Switzerland, and other International NGOs also took part in the protest.

Tazul Islam, a Bangladeshi freedom fighter from Zurich, has urged the UN Human Rights Council to declare March 25 as “Bangladesh genocide day.”

According to Khalilur Rahman, Chairperson of the IFSB, Switzerland chapter, BNP and Jamat are terrorists in Bangladesh.

Aminul Rahman Khusru, another Bangladeshi freedom fighter from Frankfurt, also condemned the Pakistan Army for the genocide.

Mohsin Rahman Suman, Sahal Alam Agor, Suman Chakma, and Mohammad Mojammel, all active members of Switzerland Awami League, raised slogans against BNP/Jamat and labeled them as collaborators of the Genocide of Bengalis who were associated with Pakistan Army during torture, sexual abuse, and mass killings during the 1971 war.

The Broken Chair sculpture represents both fragility and strength, imbalance and stability, violence and dignity.

Broken Chair was created by renowned sculptor Daniel Berset in 1997 at the request of Humanity & Inclusion (the new name of Handicap International).