Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, file photo.

Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the following Message on the occasion of the ‘International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime and the 74th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. ’ “On the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime and the 74th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,, Bangladesh joins the international community in paying solemn tribute to the victims of genocide throughout the history of the world and reiterates its firm commitment to end all forms of genocide and the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators. On 25 March 1971,, the oppressive Pakistani forces unleashed brutal mass killings on the innocent civilian population of erstwhile East Pakistan to annihilate the ethnopolitical identity of the Bangalee nation. I recall with great tribute the memory of three million martyrs who were the victims of genocide inflicted upon us by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators during our War of Liberation in 1971. The pain and trauma we suffered in 1971 motivate us to seek an end to genocide anywhere and demand justice for the victims of this heinous crime… Our Government feels relieved to have redeemed our promise to bring accountability and justice for our people by ensuring the trial of the perpetrators responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and other international crimes committed in 1971. To pay deep homage to the victims of the Genocide of 1971 and to uphold our commitment to preventing these crimes against humanity,, our Parliament has decided to observe 25 March as ‘Genocide’, Day, and the day is observed with due solemnity accordingly.. Unfortunately,, the international community is still to recognize the gravity of the genocide in Bangladesh in 1971. Globally,, many innocent people continue to face atrocities,, oppression,, and persecution incited by xenophobia,, racism, intolerance,,and hatred.. The decades-long marginalization,, atrocities,, and persecution faced by the Rohingyas in Myanmar are painful examples of such crimes. We provided temporary shelter to more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas who were forced to flee en masse to evade genocidal atrocities from their ancestral home in Myanmar.. We urge the international community to enhance pressure on the Government of Myanmar to create conducive conditions for the repatriation of the Rohingya people to their homeland with safety and dignity. I take this opportunity to reiterate our unflinching commitment to preventing genocide and similar crimes, and I call upon the international community to mobilize our collective strength in preventing such crimes, including promoting a culture of peace and non-violence all over the world.
Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu
May Bangladesh Live Forever.”