Bangladesh on March 25 observed its annual Genocide Day, commemorating one of the darkest chapters in its history while strongly criticizing Pakistan for its role in the 1971 mass killings. The day marks the anniversary of the launch of Operation Searchlight on the night of March 25, 1971, when the Pakistani army initiated a brutal crackdown in what was then East Pakistan. The military operation targeted civilians, including students, intellectuals, and security personnel, triggering widespread violence that later escalated into the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Bangladesh remembers the date as the beginning of a genocide in which hundreds of thousands to millions of people are believed to have been killed over the course of the conflict.  The night is often referred to as the “Black Night,” symbolizing the scale of atrocities carried out across cities such as Dhaka, where unarmed civilians were attacked indiscriminately.

In official statements marking the occasion, Bangladeshi leaders paid tribute to the victims and reiterated calls for global recognition of the 1971 killings as genocide. The government also criticized Pakistan for what it described as continued denial and lack of accountability for the atrocities committed during the war.

March 25 has been formally observed as Genocide Day in Bangladesh since 2017, following a parliamentary resolution to honor those who lost their lives and to preserve the memory of the events. Various programs, including memorial events, discussions, and educational activities, were held across the country to raise awareness among younger generations. The observance serves both as a tribute to the victims and as a reminder of the importance of preventing such crimes against humanity in the future.