Today marks the tragic 25th of March, the day of the Genocide. On this day in 1971, after a day of turmoil, the Bengali people were plunged into one of the most horrific nights in their history. At midnight, the brutal Pakistani military, following the pre-planned Operation Searchlight, attacked unarmed Bengalis across the country, including in the capital, Dhaka, with advanced weaponry, aiming to silence the voice of the nation forever.
On the occasion of the Genocide Day 2025, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus shared a message, remembering the victims of that dark night. In his message, he said, “On this day in 1971, the Pakistani military carried out one of the most brutal massacres in history across Dhaka and the rest of the country. With a heavy heart, I remember all the martyrs of that night. The nation still mourns this horrific event. In March of ‘71, when Bangladesh was in the midst of an uprising, General Yahya secretly left Dhaka in the evening, amidst the non-cooperation movement. At midnight, the Pakistani forces launched Operation Searchlight, unleashing the most barbaric massacre on innocent, defenseless people.”
Dr. Yunus also prayed for the souls of all the martyrs, emphasizing the difficult reality faced in the post-independence era. “In the Bangladesh we dreamed of after independence, there were no basic rights for the people under the oppressive regime of a fallen dictator. But the mass uprising of July freed the nation from the oppression and cruelty of dictatorship. The interim government, carrying the spirit of the Liberation War and the July Uprising, is committed to building a just society and establishing the rule of law,” he added.
To commemorate the day with due respect, various programs are being held across the country. A symbolic blackout (except for essential facilities) will take place from 10:30 pm to 10:31 pm tonight. In schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical institutions, special remembrance programs will be organized with prominent figures and freedom fighters, focusing on the horrors of the 25th March massacre. Exhibitions of rare photographs and documentaries related to the genocide will be displayed in all city corporations, including Dhaka, and the programs will be broadcast on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Radio.
On this day, Pakistan’s military began the genocide in an attempt to crush the dreams of independence for the Bengali people. After nine months of armed struggle, Bangladesh finally achieved independence. The massacre on the night of March 25, 1971, was part of Pakistan’s Operation Searchlight, aimed at eradicating the Bengali nation.
The operation was planned by two Pakistani military officials, Major General Khadim Hussain Raja and Major General Rao Forman Ali. There were no written documents outlining the plan; instead, the horrific instructions were passed verbally to formation commanders and relevant officials.
By the afternoon of that fateful day, a tense atmosphere hung over Dhaka and the entire country. Army officials were visibly active, inspecting military bases across the country by helicopter and returning to the Dhaka Cantonment by the evening.
At the EPR headquarters in Pilkhana, the 22nd Baloch Regiment was seen positioning themselves around various locations. At midnight, the Pakistani forces attacked Pilkhana, Rajarbagh, and Nilkhet. Using tanks and mortars, they captured areas around Nilkhet and the University area. The night turned into a nightmare as the city was consumed by machine gun fire, tank and mortar explosions, and raging flames.
Even the female students of Rokeya Hall were not spared from the Pakistani forces. Nine professors from Dhaka University, including Dr. Govinda Chandra Dev, Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, Professor Santosh Chandra Bhattacharya, and Dr. Moniruzzaman, were brutally murdered. The most horrific incident of the night occurred at Jagannath Hall, where the massacre continued from night until morning.
President Yahya Khan had finalized all plans for Operation Searchlight and secretly left Dhaka, heading to Karachi.