Dark Night revisited

The nation on Monday remembered the dark night of Mar 25, 1971 when the Pakistan army attacked Bengali civilians in an attempt to end their peaceful civil disobedience movement spearheaded by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which led to independence.

Pakistani rulers had already planned a military crackdown and were flying in troops while carrying on a facade of political talks with the Awami League leaders from Mar 16 onwards to break the deadlock created by the refusal to hand over power to the elected leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party.

Pakistan's military chief and President Yahya Khan ordered the troops to crack down before leaving Dhaka for Pakistan on the evening of Mar 25.

The infamous ‘Operation Searchlight’ of the Pakistan army began a campaign to eliminate enemies such as university teachers, students, slum dwellers and Hindus. They also attacked points of resistance such as the police headquarters at Rajarbagh and East Pakistan Rifles headquarters at Peelkhana.

Several slums were attacked and torched. The operation that began at midnight continued until the early hours of Mar 26.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was detained that night. Before he was picked up, Bangladesh's independence was declared, on his behalf, in the early hours of Mar 26, from the Chittagong Kalurghat Radio Station.

Many had advised Mujib to leave his house, but he dismissed them saying, "They will burn down Dhaka if they cannot get me."

After a nine-month war the Bengalis won the war on Dec 16, celebrated as the Victory day.

Many cultural organisations have announced programmes to remember the dark night.

‘Ekatorrer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee’ is scheduled to take out an ‘Alor Michhil’, a candlelight procession, from the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of Tuesday. The procession will end at the Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University.

A discussion will be held at the Rajarbagh Police Lines on the role of the law keepers in the nation’s Liberation War.

The Sector Commanders Forum has organised a special programme starting 11:15pm Monday and will run until 12:10am, to inspire the young generation.

Sammilita Sangskritik Jote has organised programmes at the Rajarbagh Police Line Memorial, Central Shaheed Minar and beside the residence of Dhaka University Vice Chancellor.

Apart from them, numerous fronts have planned programmes on the night.

The protesters at Shahbagh, pressing for maximum penalty for all convicted war criminals and a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, have announced they will take out a silent procession from the Prajanma Chattar towards the Central Shaheed Minar at 11pm and recall the memories of the War of Independence from 11:29pm to 11:31pm.

Later they will march towards the mass grave at Jagannath Hall with lighted candles.

After paying respects to the martyrs there, the candles will be put off and kept at Jagannath Hall Memorial from 11:58pm to 12am as a reminder to never forget the military crackdown.

Returning to Shahbagh after midnight, documentary films on Liberation War will be screened until the morning.BDnews24.com