DU Correspondent

Dhaka University Authority and Dhaka University Teachers Association jointly observed 'Genocide Day' on Monday.

On this occasion, in the evening, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal, the university family lit candles and paid tribute to the memory of the martyrs. Later, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Under the chairmanship of ASM Maksud Kamal, the discussion meeting held at Smriti Chirantan Chatwar spoke at the meeting held by the University's Pro-Vice Chancellor (Admin) Prof Dr. Muhammad Samad, the president of the teacher's association. Md. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan and Dhaka University Branch Chhatra League General Secretary Tanveer Hasan Saikat. Meanwhile, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) Prof Dr. Sitesh Chandra Bachar, Treasurer Prof Mumtaz Uddin Ahmed, General Secretary of the Teachers' Association Prof Dr. Zeenat Huda along with teachers, students, officers and employees were present. A documentary on the genocide was screened before the discussion.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed deep respect for the immortal memory of the martyrs and said that the massacre of unarmed and innocent people by the barbaric Pakistani invaders on the night of March 25, 1971 was planned. He said that the Pakistani ruling class had understood that a mass movement would develop for the independence of the country from Dhaka University under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and they could not suppress this movement.

Therefore, on the night of March 25th, one of the targets of the invading forces was Dhaka University's Jagannath Hall, Rokeya Hall, Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall (then Iqbal Hall), historic Battala, Dhaka University Club, and unarmed common people including peaceful teachers, students, officials and employees at various places of the university. carried out the most brutal massacres. Such genocide has never happened in any other country in the history of the world.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that the killings carried out by the Pakistani invasion forces in the country in 1971 deserve international recognition as per the definition of international genocide. If the international recognition of this genocide is given, those who are still carrying out genocide and anti-humanity activities in different parts of the world will be alert. The Vice-Chancellor called on the international community including the United Nations to urgently recognize this hellish massacre carried out by the Pakistani barbarian forces in the name of "Operation Searchlight" as "Genocide Day" at the international level.

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Samad said, this Dhaka University is one of the witnesses of the cruel, merciless torture and massacre that the Pakistanis carried out on the people of this country in 1971. Demanding international recognition of this genocide, he said, the history of the freedom we got through the long movement, struggle and sacrifice under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be presented from generation to generation.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal, faculty, officials and staff of the university lit candles at the Jagannath Hall mass grave and paid their respects to the memory of the martyrs. Among others, Jagannath is the Principal Professor Dr. Mihir Lal Saha was present.

On the occasion of the day, a one-minute “black-out” program was observed in all areas of the university except for emergency facilities from 11:00 pm to 11:01 am.

Apart from this, on the occasion of Genocide Day, special prayers were held in mosques of the residential area of the University including Ba'd Zohar Masjidul Jamia and other religious places of worship to seek forgiveness/peace of the souls of the martyrs.