Genocide, 1971  mass killing of Bangladesh people by Pakistan army and their collaborators during the war of liberation in 1971. No definite survey has yet been made to ascertain the exact number of people killed by the Pakistan army. Immediately after the War of Liberation, it was estimated to be as high as three million. The genocide committed by the Pakistan army is one of the worst holocausts in world history.

The indefitite postponement of the scheduled National Assembly (due to be held on 3 March 1971 at Dhaka) and the failure of the military government of General Yahiya to transfer power to the elected representatives led to widespread public resentment in East Pakistan. Protest demonstrations were held in Dhaka, Chittagong and most other cities. The army resorted to open fire on demonstrating crowds in different cities and towns. The civil disobedience movement was organised all over the country. The government lost grip on the administration.

Pakistani forces surrounded Dhaka city with tanks and other military vehicles. Truck loads of army men spread out through the city streets for stamping out all civil resistance. At midnight, the Dhaka University halls of residences and staff quarters were attacked with tanks and armoured vehicles. A number of teachers, students and officials were killed. Many buildings including some newspaper offices were battered with mortar shells. Many people were burnt alive in the houses set on fire. Various parts of old Dhaka, including Hindu majority Mahallas such as Shankhari Patti and Tantibazar came under mortar shells. Hundreds of inmates were gunned down. It was estimated that more than 50,000 men, women and children were killed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Jessore, Mymensingh, Kushtia and other cities within the first three days of the genocide beginning from 25 March 1971. This was termed as Operation Searchlight.

Soon the Pakistan army spread out into the remotest parts of the country. In retaliation the Bangali nationalists began to organise resistance with effect from 26 March following the declaration of independence of Bangladesh. This further intensified the military action of Pakistan government. In effect, the Pakistan army started an undeclared war against the unarmed civilians of Bangladesh. The Pakistan armed forces used warplanes and gunships to contain the nationalist forces. Men, women and children of hundreds of villages, cities, and towns were killed and maimed indiscriminately. Arsoning, raping and looting knew no limit. Out of fear and intimidation millions of Bangalis left their home and took shelter in various refugee camps set up by the Government of India along the border areas.

In containing the freedom fighters the Pakistan government had raised paramilitary forces with the designations of razakar, al-badr and al-shams. These forces joined the army in killing and terrorising the people. Many people, including intellectuals of the country were lifted by them for interrogation and only a few of them returned home. All these savageries were resorted to for exterminating the mukti bahini and their supporters. No international action was taken against the perpetrators of this most barbarous genocide according to UNO convention on genocide and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The genocide continued till the surrender of the Pakistan army on 16 December 1971. [Fazlul Quader Quaderi]

Note: Entries on upazilas contain information on genocide committed in different areas of Bangladesh.

Bibliography  Ershad Ferdousi, The Year that Was, Dhaka, 1997; Hasan Hafizur Rahman (ed) The History of Liberation Struggle of Bangladesh, Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1980; Anthony Mascarhenes, The Rape of Bangladesh, London, 1974; Abul Hasanat, The Ugliest Genocide in History, Dhaka, 1973; Fazlul Quader Quaderi, Bangladesh Genocide and World Press, Dhaka, 1972.