The government of Bangladesh is trying to get international recognition of the 1971 genocide, at the beginning of Bangladesh’s glorious nine-month-long Liberation War, according to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the issue is now alive and the government is trying to get international recognition of it,” he said.
The foreign minister expresses his hope that the new generation of Pakistan will understand the Pakistan Army’s genocide in Bangladesh in 1971 and raise their voice for perpetrators' punishment.
“Pakistani junta who committed the genocide went unpunished. It’s very unfortunate and shameful. It’s a shame for Pakistan, too. They should have tried them,” he told reporters after attending a seminar in the city, reports UNB.
Earlier he spoke at a seminar titled “Bangladesh Genocide in 1971” as the guest of honour jointly organised by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held at Liberation War Museum Auditorium, Agargaon.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque spoke as the chief guest. Founding President of Genocide Watch Professor Gregory Stanton, renowned genocide expert Dr Helen Jarvis and Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque also spoke.
Momen said the parliament adopted the resolution to commemorate 25th March as the ‘Genocide Day’.
“We believe commemoration of 25th March as Genocide Day is not only paying homage to the great and brave martyrs of 1971 but also creating public awareness against the genocide happened and happening all around the world,” he said.
‘Genocide Watch’ has issued ‘Declaration in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Bangladesh Genocide’ and ‘Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention’ has issued ‘Statement on the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971’ a few months ago.
Momen quoted from the speech of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered at the UN General Assembly in 1974 and said, “I know that the soul of our martyrs joins us in pledging that the Banglaee nation fully commits itself to the building of a world order in which the aspiration of all men and women for peace and justice will be realised.”
The speakers paid profound respect to Bangabandhu whose unprecedented charismatic leadership and long struggle helped in achieving our long-cherished independence.
They also paid homage to the memories of the three million martyrs of the War of Liberation, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Bangladesh.
