Dhaka, March 25 (NationPress) On this Genocide Day, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina honored the memory of the countless individuals who lost their lives during the horrifying events of 1971, when Pakistani forces executed a brutal crackdown.

Remembering this tragic night, Hasina remarked that on March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military initiated "Operation Searchlight," launching a calculated effort to annihilate the Bengali population in Bangladesh.

"In just nine months, the toll of this horrific genocide exceeded 3 million lives. Since such unprecedented cruelty had never been seen in Bengali history, we have yet to develop a specific Bengali term for 'genocide'; the term 'genocide' itself is often used to convey its meaning," a statement from the former PM shared by Awami League on its social media platform X noted.

"This fateful night, I remember the prominent figure of our liberation struggle, the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was captured by the occupying forces that very night. I extend my respects to the innumerable martyrs whose blood has sanctified this land," she expressed.

She emphasized that to ensure the recognition of the "atrocities and barbarity" carried out by the occupying forces, the Awami League government made a significant declaration on March 11, 2017, in Parliament, designating March 25 as 'Genocide Day'.

"We aimed to raise global awareness about the immense cost of our freedom and to bolster the international call for justice regarding this genocide," stated the former PM.

Hasina highlighted that, despite facing both domestic and international "conspiracies and pressure," the Awami League administration was committed to ensuring that several identified perpetrators of these crimes faced appropriate legal consequences.

"This was not an act of vengeance," she clarified. "It was a vital move towards justice, adherence to the rule of law, and dismantling the culture of impunity."

Criticizing the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, Hasina remarked, "During the Yunus administration, the trial process was obstructed, and convicted war criminals were freed. A death-row war criminal was even appointed to the National Parliament, dishonoring the sacrifice of countless martyrs."

"Continuing this trend, there are ongoing efforts to intentionally distort the memory of the martyrs and rehabilitate collaborators of the perpetrators, which is not just a misrepresentation of history but also a direct assault on the essence of our fight for freedom," she added.

Reiterating the unity showcased during the 1971 Liberation War, the former PM asserted that any endeavor to rehabilitate the murderers and reinstate Pakistani ideology in the nation must be met with collective resistance.