Bangladesh will observe a one-minute nationwide blackout on Mar 25 to commemorate the horrific night the Pakistan Army launched a massacre of the Bengali people in 1971, reports bdnews24.com.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the entire country will remain in darkness for one minute at 10:30pm on Tuesday as part of the Genocide Remembrance Day.
Only Key Points Installations and emergency facilities will be exempt from this programme.
Moreover, the ministry has strictly prohibited decorative lighting on any government, semi-government, autonomous, or private buildings and structures at night.
On Mar 7, 1971, during his historic speech at the Racecourse Ground, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made a call for Bangladesh's independence. This fuelled the spirit of rebellion among the people of East Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army prepared to conduct a brutal massacre.
In an attempt to crush the Bengali liberation movement, the Pakistan Army launched "Operation Searchlight" on the night of Mar 25, 1971.
During this massacre, the Pakistani army attacked Dhaka University, the Rajarbagh Police Lines, Ramna Kali Mandir, and other locations, killing thousands of innocent people. At least 7,000 Bengalis were slaughtered in Dhaka alone.
On Mar 26, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence was made, kicking off the Liberation War. After nine brutal months, that independence was ensured at the cost of millions of lives.
