Demonstration demand ‘unconditional official apology’ from Pakistan to Bangladesh genocide

Demonstration to demand an ‘unconditional official apology’ from Pakistan for the Genocide in Bangladesh in 1971                        

Venue: Paleisstraat, Den Haag

Date: Wednesday 14 April 2021

 Time: 13:00- 14:00 (CET)

The Europe-based Bangladeshi diaspora organisation, European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) will organize a demonstration on Wednesday 14 April 2021 to demand from the Pakistan government an ‘unconditional official apology’ for the Genocide Pakistan army committed in Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971.

The demonstration will take place at PALEISSTRAAT, close to Pakistan Embassy in the Hague from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. local time and it will be participated by the Bangladeshis living in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

The 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh committed by the Pakistan Army is one of the worst mass atrocities that the world witnessed in the 20th century. The Pakistani occupation army in 9 months killed approximately 3 million people, violated over two hundred thousand women and forced 10 million people to cross the border and take shelter in India. This number of people killed by the Pakistani Army is the highest in such a short period, as the Second World War cost lives of 60 million people, but that War lasted for 6 years and spread over three continents. The 1971 Genocide by the Pakistan Army is well documented and reported in the international media and also in the diplomatic correspondences during that period. The world media including The Telegraph, The Times, The Sunday Times, The New York Times and several news agencies reported the massacre of the Bengalis by the Pakistan Army and told the world. Pakistan Army under a blue print systematically also killed the intellectuals and professionals of Bangladesh, apart from the mass killing.

International discrimination against Bangladesh: International community has discriminated against the large-scale genocide in Bangladesh in the run up to its liberation in 1971. During the Nazi holocaust when thousands of Jews were exterminated in gas chambers, there was international outcry and it was universally condemned. But the international community remained silent when Bengalis were killed in 1971.

In order to draw the attention of the international community, the European mainstream community, its leadership and policy makers in particular, EBF is going to organise the 14 April demonstration to demand from the Pakistan government an ‘unconditional formal apology’ for the Genocide its army and civil officials committed in Bangladesh in 1971. It may be mentioned here that the present government of Bangladesh tried a number of the key war criminals of Bangladeshi origin who collaborated in the genocidal acts with the Pakistani occupying army. But the key Pakistani army officers and soldiers responsible for the genocide still remain in immunity and have not been tried by the Pakistan government as promised.

We strongly demand of the Pakistan government:

1.         An official unconditional apology for the genocide the Pakistan army committed in Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971.

2.         Trial of the Pakistan army and civil officials who were responsible for the Genocide in 1971.

3.         Provide adequate compensation to the families of those killed in the Genocide and compensate Bangladesh government for the damage and destruction of the national properties.

4.         Take back the stranded Pakistanis (Biharis) in Bangladesh to Pakistan.