The National Genocide Day was celebrated today with due dignity at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia . On this occasion , the speeches of the President and the Prime Minister on the occasion of the day were read out in a discussion program organized in the auditorium of the embassy . At the beginning of the ceremony , a minute’s silence was observed in memory of all the martyrs who died in the liberation war .
Ambassador of Bangladesh in Saudi Arabia Dr. Mohammad Javed Patwari said that in March 1971 , to resist the ongoing movement of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the rightful rights of the people of Bangladesh , the Pakistani invasion forces attacked the unarmed people of Bangladesh on the night of March 25 , according to the blue design of Yahya and Bhutto . Brutally killing hundreds of unarmed people , writing a scandalous chapter in human history . Bangabandhu declared independence in the first hours of March 26 after midnight on that day , which was spread across the country through the then EPR transmitter . Responding to the call of Bangabandhu , the people of Bengal jumped into the liberation war .
The Ambassador said that the proposal to observe March 25 as National Genocide Day was unanimously accepted in the National Assembly in 2017 and since then the day has been observed . The observance of Genocide Day is a symbol of recognition of the sacrifice of the three million martyrs who died in the liberation struggle of Bangladesh as well as a protest against the brutal genocide of the Pakistani occupation forces .
He said that the genocide committed in different countries of the world has been tried . Various genocides have been tried , starting with the horrifying massacres of World War II . Therefore, the trial and international recognition of the terrible genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 1971 is necessary. And in order to achieve this recognition , the Bangladeshi community , intellectuals and professionals located abroad must work together .
Deputy Chief of Mission Md Abul Hasan Mridha , Defense Attache Brigadier General Md Golam Farooq spoke in the ceremony moderated by Embassy Counselor Md Belal Hossain . In addition, Md . Moazzem Hossain , a brave freedom fighter of the Bangladeshi community in Riyadh , businessman MR Mahabub spoke at the meeting. The speakers demanded justice and international recognition of the horrific massacre that took place on March 25 , 1971 at Kalra .
Zaheer Raihan’s film Stop Genocide was screened on the occasion . Apart from this, a blackout program was held at the embassy for 1 minute from 8 pm yesterday to pay respect to the memory of the martyrs along with Bangladesh . In the event, special prayers were offered to all the martyrs of the liberation war , the father of the nation and all the martyred members of his family and the nation .