Dhaka appreciates recognition to 1971 genocide

Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has appreciated ‘Genocide Watch’ and ‘Lemkin Institute’ for recognising the mass killing committed by the Pakistani occupation forces during Bangladesh’s Liberation War as genocide.

In separate letters dated February 8, 2022, the foreign minister expressed his gratitude towards Genocide Watch founding president Dr Gregory H Stanton and Lemkin Institute’s Co-Founders and Co-Presidents Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, Irene Victoria Massimino, said a release.

“People of Bangladesh find solace in your words of empathy who were subject to widespread and systematic crimes by the Pakistani forces and their local allies during our great war of Independence in 1971,”Momen wrote in the letters.

The foreign minister wrote that following a unanimous decision adopted by the National Parliament on March 11, 2017, the people of Bangladesh have been observing March 25 as ‘Genocide Day’.

“We also establish ‘Genocide Corner’ in our ministry. Parliament tasked the government to secure international recognition in favor of Bangladesh’s Genocide Day”, Momen added.

In letters, the foreign minister said that their declaration on genocide will contribute in accelerating the pace as well as spirit of our efforts for achieving global recognition of 25 March as the ‘Bangladesh’s Genocide Day.’

Earlier, US-based organisations Genocide Watch and Lemkin Institute separately declared that the crimes committed by the Pakistani military junta against the Bengali people during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 is a genocide

The organisations also urged the United Nations and international community to declare the mass killing that was committed in Bangladesh as genocide.

Genocide Watch is a Washington DC-based NGO working to predict, prevent, stop, and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder.

On the other hand, The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention works with people around the world to promote genocide prevention, human security, restorative dialogue, mental health literacy, and peace-building education and training as well as to offer tools for grassroots responses to conflict.