25 March 2024, Bandar Seri Begawan:

Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei Darussalam observed Genocide Day 2024 with due solemnity on 25 March 2024. The program was attended mainly by members of Bangladesh Community. At the beginning of the program, recitation from the Holy Quran was done by Mr. Hafez Habibullah and prayers were offered for the salvation of the departed souls of all martyrs who were viciously killed in that fateful night of 25 March 1971, and during the war and the greatest Bengali of all times Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, our Father of the Nation. A minute’s silence was also observed in their memories. The Bangladesh High Commissioner Mrs. Nahida Rahman Shumona read out messages from the Hon’ble President, and the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

A video documentary was screened, depicting the history and background of the Genocide Day. Paying rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangladesh High Commissioner, in her remarks, condemned the brutality of the Pakistan military in severe terms. She said that mercilessly killing innocent people who clamoured for independence and self-determination was pathetic, and unacceptable. She added “the blood of the martyrs did not go in vain, as we became independent after nine months long bloody battle. However, it is difficult to forget the memories of the genocide which left an indelible black mark on our national psyche. To prevent such genocidal incident occurring again in any place of the world, we need the recognition of the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide”. Mr. Jashim, a Bangladesh community member maintained that this kind of barbarism demonstrated by the Pakistani forces cannot be condoned by any logic, calling for widespread condemnation from within the international community as well as global recognition for ‘Genocide Day’.