<p>Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday (Mar 25) extended his condolences on Genocide Day, which is observed in his country to commemorate the victims of March 25, 1971. On this night, the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight, a brutal crackdown intended to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in then-East Pakistan.&nbsp;Rahman recounted how Pakistan killed Bangladeshis under this operation. He termed March 25, 1971, one of the most disgraceful and brutal days.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In a lengthy post on X, he said, "March 25, 1971, is observed as Genocide Day. On the occasion of Genocide Day, I pay my deepest respect to all the martyrs. In the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh, 25 March 1971 remains one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. On that dark night, the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the most heinous genocides in history against the unarmed people of Bangladesh in the name of 'Operation Searchlight". "The genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned massacre. Why this organised killing spree could not be resisted remains a matter of historical research regarding the visible role of the political leadership of that time," he added. Rahman called for people to honour the sacrifices made by those who died.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-will-cooperate-in-matters-of-national-interest-tarique-rahman-meets-jamaat-chief-shafiqur-rahman-ahead-of-swearing-in-1771225807798"><strong>'Will cooperate in matters of national interest': Tarique Rahman meets Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman ahead of swearing-in</strong></a></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">March 25, 1971 is observed as Genocide Day. On the occasion of Genocide Day, 1 pay my deepest respect to all the martyrs.<br><br>In the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh, 25 March 1971 remains one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. On that dark night, the Pakistani occupation… <a href="https://t.co/ENyyvnz8Tw">pic.twitter.com/ENyyvnz8Tw</a></p>&mdash; Tarique Rahman (@trahmanbnp) <a href="https://twitter.com/trahmanbnp/status/2036485539444982074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-sheikh-hasina-and-her-awami-league-find-space-in-tarique-rahman-s-new-bangladesh-amid-jamaat-s-rise-1771229273915"><strong>Will Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League find space in Tarique Rahman’s ‘new Bangladesh’ amid Jamaat’s rise?</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Recalling the sequence of events, he said that Pakistani forces had indiscriminately opened fire on teachers, intellectuals and innocent civilians at locations including Dhaka University, Pilkhana and Rajarbāgh Police Lines, killing many people. He described the genocide of March 25 as a pre-planned massacre and noted that the failure to resist the organised killing spree remains a subject of historical research regarding the role of the political leadership at the time. He added that on the same night, the 8th East Bengal Regiment in Chattogram formally initiated armed resistance by declaring “We Revolt,” marking the beginning of the nine-month Liberation War. He called on citizens to work together to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh.&nbsp;</p><h2>Why is the statement important?</h2><p>The statement is significant as it comes amid a shifting political landscape in Bangladesh following the 2024 uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina and the rise of Jamaat. The post calling out Pakistan's act reaffirms that the foundation of the Bangladeshi state is tied to the 1971 Liberation War. Under Muhammad Yunus’s interim leadership, Bangladesh has moved to "repair ties" with Pakistan, including the first Foreign Office Consultations in 15 years. Yunus in his Victory Day speech made no mention of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader. Moreover, the "July Declaration" by Yunus pitched to give constitutional recognition to the 2024 student uprising as a "second independence," which critics argue attempts to eclipse the historical weight of the 1971 war.<br>&nbsp;</p>

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman marked Genocide Day (Bangladesh), recalling atrocities during Operation Searchlight and urging citizens to uphold Liberation War ideals of justice, equality, and democracy.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday (Mar 25) extended his condolences on Genocide Day, which is observed in his country to commemorate the victims of March 25, 1971. On this night, the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight, a brutal crackdown intended to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in then-East Pakistan. Rahman recounted how Pakistan killed Bangladeshis under this operation. He termed March 25, 1971, one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. In a lengthy post on X, he said, "March 25, 1971, is observed as Genocide Day. On the occasion of Genocide Day, I pay my deepest respect to all the martyrs. In the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh, 25 March 1971 remains one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. On that dark night, the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the most heinous genocides in history against the unarmed people of Bangladesh in the name of 'Operation Searchlight". "The genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned massacre. Why this organised killing spree could not be resisted remains a matter of historical research regarding the visible role of the political leadership of that time," he added. Rahman called for people to honour the sacrifices made by those who died. Also Read: 'Will cooperate in matters of national interest': Tarique Rahman meets Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman ahead of swearing-in

<p>Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman marked Genocide Day (Bangladesh), recalling atrocities during Operation Searchlight and urging citizens to uphold Liberation War ideals of justice, equality, and democracy.</p>

Bangladesh PM calls out Pakistan's 'pre-planned massacre' under Op Searchlight: What happened on Mar 25, 1971

<p>As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, both nations have taken drastic measures. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting Pakistan to nullify the 1972 Shimla Agreement, signed after the 1971 war. With Pakistan breaching the Line of Control (LOC) ceasefire on Thursday, revisiting the 1971 war underlines India&rsquo;s military prowess and its historical significance.</p>
<p>Spanning just 13 days, it culminated in the creation of a new nation, Bangladesh.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>1. The Trigger</strong></h2>
<p>The seeds of the war were sown in, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where a brutal crackdown by the Pakistani military on the Bengali population led to widespread atrocities. Operation Searchlight, launched on March 25, 1971, resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands and spurring the nationalist sentiment in the region.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As the crisis led to a burgeoning refugee problem in West Bengal and Assam on the Indian side, the Indira Gandhi government decided to support the resistance movement.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/simla-agreement-to-indus-waters-treaty-list-of-bilateral-agreements-between-india-and-pakistan-since-1947-9001192">Also Read: Simla Agreement to Indus Waters Treaty: List of bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan since 1947</a></p>
<h2><strong>2. Formation and Support of Mukti Bahini</strong></h2>
<p>Indian intelligence and military agencies trained and armed Mukti Bahini, allowing them to launch guerrilla attacks that softened Pakistani positions in the east. This proxy phase of the war destabilised Pakistani control and set the stage for India&rsquo;s formal military intervention.</p>
<h2><strong>3. Swift and Decisive Military Campaign</strong></h2>
<p>India launched a full-scale military offensive officially on December 3, 1971, in response to pre-emptive Pakistani airstrikes on Indian airbases. What followed was a meticulously coordinated three-pronged attack on East Pakistan from the north, west, and east, led by Indian Army generals like Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora. In less than two weeks, Indian forces had surrounded Dhaka, Pakistan's eastern capital. The Indian Navy simultaneously blockaded Pakistani ports and the Indian Air Force established air superiority.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-pakistan-standoff-a-detailed-comparison-of-defence-forces-across-the-army-navy-and-air-force-9000327">India-Pakistan standoff: A detailed comparison of defence forces across the army, navy and air force</a></p>
<h2><strong>4. Historic Surrender: The Fall of Dhaka</strong></h2>
<p>On December 16, 1971, Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi, the commander of Pakistan&rsquo;s Eastern Command, surrendered to Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Army in Dhaka. In one of the most iconic moments in military history, 93,000 Pakistani soldiers laid down their arms, making it the largest surrender since World War II. The formal signing of the Instrument of surrender marked the birth of Bangladesh and a humiliating defeat for Pakistan, both militarily and politically.</p>
<h2><strong>5. Naval and Air Dominance, with INS Vikrant and INS Rajput</strong></h2>
<p>The Indian Navy, led by INS Vikrant, blockaded East Pakistan, launching over 300 airstrikes on Chittagong and Khulna, crippling supply lines. INS Rajput sank PNS Ghazi off Visakhapatnam, protecting Vikrant by acting as a decoy. The Indian Air Force grounded Pakistan&rsquo;s number 14 squadron, while operations like the Karachi harbour bombing ensured India&rsquo;s control.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/india-news/5-times-indias-military-has-triumphed-against-pakistans-aggression-9000737">Also Read: 5 times India&rsquo;s military triumphed over Pakistan's aggression</a></p>
<h2>The Simla Agreement (1972)</h2>
<p>After the war, India and Pakistan signed the Simla Agreement on July 2, 1972, in the hill town of Shimla. A year later, on July 2, 1972, Indian Prime Minister&nbsp;Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto signed the Simla Agreement. An official copy of the agreement published by the Ministry of External Affairs said that it sought to reverse the consequences of the 1971 war. The pact was aimed at restoring peace and normalising relations.</p>

A day after India’s measures against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan announced on Thursday it would hold all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement, in abeyance. The agreement signed after the 1917 war was a significant breakthrough

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, both nations have taken drastic measures. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting Pakistan to nullify the 1972 Shimla Agreement, signed after the 1971 war. With Pakistan breaching the Line of Control (LOC) ceasefire on Thursday, revisiting the 1971 war underlines India’s military prowess and its historical significance. Spanning just 13 days, it culminated in the creation of a new nation, Bangladesh. 1. The Trigger The seeds of the war were sown in, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where a brutal crackdown by the Pakistani military on the Bengali population led to widespread atrocities. Operation Searchlight, launched on March 25, 1971, resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands and spurring the nationalist sentiment in the region. As the crisis led to a burgeoning refugee problem in West Bengal and Assam on the Indian side, the Indira Gandhi government decided to support the resistance movement. Also Read: Simla Agreement to Indus Waters Treaty: List of bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan since 1947 2. Formation and Support of Mukti Bahini Indian intelligence and military agencies trained and armed Mukti Bahini, allowing them to launch guerrilla attacks that softened Pakistani positions in the east. This proxy phase of the war destabilised Pakistani control and set the stage for India’s formal military intervention. 3. Swift and Decisive Military Campaign India launched a full-scale military offensive officially on December 3, 1971, in response to pre-emptive Pakistani airstrikes on Indian airbases. What followed was a meticulously coordinated three-pronged attack on East Pakistan from the north, west, and east, led by Indian Army generals like Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora. In less than two weeks, Indian forces had surrounded Dhaka, Pakistan's eastern capital. The Indian Navy simultaneously blockaded Pakistani ports and the Indian Air Force established air superiority. Also Read: India-Pakistan standoff: A detailed comparison of defence forces across the army, navy and air force 4. Historic Surrender: The Fall of Dhaka On December 16, 1971, Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi, the commander of Pakistan’s Eastern Command, surrendered to Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Army in Dhaka. In one of the most iconic moments in military history, 93,000 Pakistani soldiers laid down their arms, making it the largest surrender since World War II. The formal signing of the Instrument of surrender marked the birth of Bangladesh and a humiliating defeat for Pakistan, both militarily and politically. 5. Naval and Air Dominance, with INS Vikrant and INS Rajput The Indian Navy, led by INS Vikrant, blockaded East Pakistan, launching over 300 airstrikes on Chittagong and Khulna, crippling supply lines. INS Rajput sank PNS Ghazi off Visakhapatnam, protecting Vikrant by acting as a decoy. The Indian Air Force grounded Pakistan’s number 14 squadron, while operations like the Karachi harbour bombing ensured India’s control. Also Read: 5 times India’s military triumphed over Pakistan's aggression The Simla Agreement (1972) After the war, India and Pakistan signed the Simla Agreement on July 2, 1972, in the hill town of Shimla. A year later, on July 2, 1972, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto signed the Simla Agreement. An official copy of the agreement published by the Ministry of External Affairs said that it sought to reverse the consequences of the 1971 war. The pact was aimed at restoring peace and normalising relations.

India-Pakistan standoff: Revisiting the 1971 war and the legacy of the Simla Agreement

Authorities have suspended mobile internet services as violent clashes have killed at least six and injured hundreds. Authorities have announced the closure of schools and universities for an indefinite period. The protests are against the public sector job quotas and 30% reservation for family members of fighters from the 1971 War of Independence.

Bangladesh: Six killed in job quota protests, PM Sheikh Hasina vows punishment for culprits