The nation on Tuesday observed Genocide Day by remembering the victims of the genocide orchestrated by the Pakistani occupation forces on March 25, 1971 against the unarmed people of Bangladesh.
The remembrance came through observing various programmes, including discussions and cultural events, taken up by the government, and political and socio-cultural organisations.
As part of the programmes of the liberation war affairs ministry, lights were kept off for one minute starting from 10:30pm on Tuesday throughout the country, keeping only the key point installations out of the symbolic blackout.
The ministry also organised cultural programmes, including a musical drama based on genocide and the war of liberation, across the country.
Local administration and different socio-cultural organisations in the districts also organised programmes for children, including essay and painting competitions.
The Bangladesh missions abroad held discussions marking the day.
Newspapers published special supplements on the genocide committed by the Pakistani occupational forces on the night of March 25, 1971.
Special prayers were offered at mosques after Zuhr prayers, while other places of worship also held separate programmes seeking eternal peace for the souls of the martyrs, who were killed on the fateful night of March 25.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party also hosted different programmes, including holding a discussion meeting at the Institution of Engineers in the capital to mark the day.
Left Democratic Alliance held a candle-lighting programme at Shikha Chirantan in Suhrawardy Udyan at 7:00pm.聽
At midnight, the Pakistani troops raided the residential quarters of Dhaka University teachers and student dormitories and butchered many teachers and students.
In simultaneous attacks that night, many people were killed and injured in the port city of Chattogram and at other places across the country.
The crackdown set off the nine-month war of liberation led by the Mujibnagar government in exile. The war ended with the emergence of independent Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
The day is being observed as Genocide Day since the parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017.