Prominent persons of the country demanded that the massacre prepared by the Pakistani forces in Bangladesh in 1971 be declared a 'genocide' in a discussion program at East West University (EWU) on Wednesday.
This demand was strengthened by the speech of Mofidul Haque, trustee of Liberation War Museum, Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, director of Center for Genocide Studies of Dhaka University, Prof Dr M M Shahidul Hassan, vice-chancellor of EWU and Prof Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, former PS to Bangabandhu and Chief Advisor of EWU.
Speakers said that the killings organized in Bangladesh in 1971 were cruel and terrible. More than 3 million people have been killed there, 5-6,00,000 women have been brutally raped and more than 10 million people have become refugees, according to a press release.
Similar incidents have occurred in Bosnia, Rwanda, which has been recognized as 'genocide' by the United Nations.
Even though more crimes were committed in Bangladesh in 1971 than that, but still has not received that recognition.
The speakers demanded recognition of 'genocide' from the United Nations and also urge to the new generation to speak out through more research and writings to achieve that acknowledgement.
Documentaries on the liberation war 'Stop Genocide' and 'Janajudda 71' were screened at the event. Apart from this, patriotic music performed by the students of EWU. Faculty members, officials, staff and students of the university participated in the event.
