The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) has stated that March 25 is not only a national tragedy for Bangladesh, but also a symbol of cruel state violence against all of humanity. It is a day of deep sorrow and mourning.
In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday to mark the occasion, the party said that March 25 represents one of the darkest days in Bangladesh’s history. On this day in 1971, the Pakistani military launched a meticulously planned operation, codenamed ‘Operation Searchlight’, carrying out mass killings against unarmed Bengalis. The events later became internationally recognized as an egregious violation of human rights, known as the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. The day therefore stands not merely as a tragedy for the nation, but as a symbol of barbaric state-sponsored violence against humanity.
The statement added that on that night, indiscriminate attacks were carried out across the capital and other parts of the country. Residents of Dhaka University halls, members of the Rajarbagh police lines, and EPR personnel stationed at Pilkhana were targeted, resulting in the deaths of countless unarmed civilians. Women, children, the elderly, and members of minority communities were among the victims. The attacks represented a deliberate attempt to terrorize and silence an entire nation.
However, the brutal repression failed to extinguish the spirit of resistance among Bengalis. From that moment, sparks of opposition emerged, eventually leading to the full-scale Liberation War and the establishment of an independent state. The sacrifices of the martyrs form the foundation of the nation’s existence and continue to inspire the struggle for justice and dignity.
The NCP emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of society to convey this historical truth accurately to future generations, preserve the memory of the martyrs, and actively resist attempts to distort history. It also called for more effective measures to secure international recognition of the genocide.
On this Genocide Day, the party urged all citizens to remain united in upholding the spirit of the Liberation War and building a dignified, sovereign state.