Bangladesh Marks 56th Independence Day with Tributes

Bangladesh observed its 56th Independence Day on Thursday, March 26, with nationwide commemorations honoring the 1971 Liberation War that birthed the nation from the ashes of Pakistani rule. The previous day, March 25, marked Genocide Day, recalling the brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces that ignited the conflict. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman led tributes, issuing a statement that condemned the atrocities as a preplanned massacre and urged citizens to embed the war's ideals of equality, human dignity, and social justice into modern society.

In his message, shared on social media, Rahman described March 25, 1971, as one of the most disgraceful and brutal days in Bangladesh's history. He detailed how Pakistani occupation forces launched Operation Searchlight that night, targeting unarmed civilians, teachers, intellectuals, students, and police at sites including Dhaka University, Pilkhana, and Rajarbagh police lines. Indiscriminate firing left thousands dead in Dhaka alone, with official estimates placing the war's total toll at three million lives over nine months. Rahman paid deepest respects to the martyrs and highlighted the immediate resistance by the 8th East Bengal...