The government has decided to observe a one-minute “blackout” on the night of March 25, marking the Genocide Day for the seventh consecutive year.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan came up with the decision after emerging from a law and order meeting on the occasion of the Genocide Day on March 25, Independence Day on March 26 at his ministry conference room.
Like previous years, the home minister said, the “blackout” programme will be observed for one minute from 10:30pm to 10:31pm on the night of March 25 across the country to pay homage to those who were killed in the “Operation Searchlight” launched by the then Pakistani occupation forces on that dreadful night of March 25 in 1971.
He said additional security measures will also be taken on the occasion of the blackout observance as well as the Genocide Day and the Independence Day.
Besides, strict security measures will be taken to ensure security on the occasion of the Independence Day on March 26 at National Martyrs’ Memorial, Savar, where the president and the prime minister will respectively pay homage, Asaduzzaman said.
Foreign diplomats will also visit the memorial at Savar, he said, adding that security forces have been asked to ensure security so that they can move smoothly.
“Necessary improvement of the road communication system along with strengthening intelligence measures was discussed in the meeting.”
Replying to a question, he said stern action will be taken against those who will be responsible for spreading rumours on social media, adding, “No specific threat was received centring the Genocide Day and the Independence Day programmes.”
In 2017, the government officially declared March 25 as “Genocide Day,” commemorating “Operation Searchlight” carried out by the Pakistani military junta to stop the independence struggle of the Bangalees.
