The Embassy of Bangladesh, Tokyo observed the dreadful 25th March, the ‘Genocide Day’ today with due solemnity. The program started with observance of 01 (one) minute silence in remembrance of all martyrs of the dreadful night followed by offering special prayers for the salvation of the souls of the 3 million known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their lives on 25th March and during the nine-months of Liberation War in 1971. Prayer was also offered to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members, who were martyred on 15 August 1975. The messages issued by Hon’ble President and Hon’ble Prime Minister on Genocide Day were read out by Embassy officials.
In his remarks of H.E. Mr. Shahabuddin Ahmed, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan paid homage to the heroes who embraced martyrdom in the dark and deadly night of 25th March 1971 when Pakistani occupation forces carried out cowardly attack to the sleeping unarmed Bengalese. The Ambassador said, the main purpose of the Pakistani military’s “Operation Searchlight” was to unleash a genocide to kill prominent leaders of Awami League, students and renowned intellectuals living in the Dhaka and other major cities of then East Pakistan with an aim to crush the independence movement under the leadership of Bangabandhu and establish their control over the province. Ambassador said that soon after the crackdown, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared independence and called upon the countrymen to fight the occupation force till we attain victory.
A discussion on the significance of the day was held. Embassy officials took part in a discussion. The speakers remembered with deep respect all the martyrs who were killed in the terrible night of 25 March 1971. They also recalled with profound respect the architect of the independence of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his role and intrinsic contribution that led to independent Bangladesh after nine-months of bloody war. The speakers said, people from all walks of life including students, teachers, intellectuals, members of different services especially from police and the EPR were killed in the massacre that happened in the dark night of 25th March 1971. As the last element of the program, a documentary was screened on the Genocide Day.
