One-minute blackout in Bangladesh to observed Genocide Day

Bangladesh observed a one-minute blackout on Sunday night, remembering the brutalities and cowardly attacks carried out by the Pakistani occupation forces on the unarmed Bangalees on the black night of March 25 in 1971.

Picture taken on July 24, 1971, of the destroyed streets of Madhabpur. Source: Getty Images

People across the country kept their lights off for one minute from 9 pm local time. However, the government did not suspend the power supply.

The day is being observed officially for the second time in the country as Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11 in 2017, to observe March 25 as the Genocide Day. People from all walks of life marked the day with various programmes.

Volunteers being drilled by soldiers of the East Pakistan Rifles inside the Chuadanga barracks in preparation for fighting in the Bangladesh Liberation War Source: Getty Images

On the black night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killing in Dhaka. In the attack dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani forces mercilessly killed innocent public and also the members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people.

They killed people indiscriminately, set fire to houses and properties, and looted business establishments, leaving a trail of destruction.