Rangpur: A memorial and discussion meeting on the March 25 genocide and the historical great War of Liberation was organised at the initiative of the Rangpur Regional Information Office on Monday afternoon. Rangpur Metropolitan Muktijoddha Sangsad Command Unit Member-Secretary, heroic Muktijoddha Md Abdus Sattar, was present as the chief guest at the programme held at the Rangpur Adarsh High School hallroom in the city. Rangpur Regional Information Office Senior Information Officer Md Shahjahan Ali presided over the event, which was attended by government officials, teachers, and more than a hundred students of the educational institution.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Sattar, in his speech, highlighted the significance of the Liberation War as a monumental event for the Bengali nation. He emphasized that the identity of Bangladesh is deeply rooted in the Liberation War, pointing out that without it, Bangladesh would not have emerged as an independent and sovereign state on the world map. Despite winning an absolute victory in the 1970 general elections, the Pakistani ruling class did not transfer power to the Bengalis, opting instead to suppress them through conspiracies. This led to the barbaric massacre on the night of March 25, where Pakistani forces killed more than a million unarmed Bengalis. The liberation was achieved through a nine-month war, resulting in the sacrifice of three million martyrs.
Addressing the students, Md Abdus Sattar stressed the importance of the new generation learning the correct history of the Liberation War to uphold the spirit of independence. He urged them to build a prosperous nation by embracing the values of the Liberation War, fostering patriotism, and developing a sense of responsibility.
District Education Officer Md Enayet Hossain, speaking as a special guest, highlighted the ongoing struggle of the Bengali nation for democratic rights against the injustices of the Pakistani rulers. He outlined one of the main objectives of the Liberation War: to establish a happy, prosperous, and discrimination-free Bangladesh.
Senior Information Officer Md Shahjahan Ali recounted the discrimination faced by the people of East Pakistan in various fields for 23 years following the 1947 partition. He noted that these injustices led to a unified Bengali freedom movement, solidifying the spirit of Bengali nationalism. The massacre of March 25, 1971, aimed to suppress the Bengali movement for just rights but instead strengthened the demand for independence and ignited the Liberation War.
Special guest speakers, including Rangpur Adarsh High School Headmaster Mohammad Rahmat Alam and agriculturist Md Azhar Ali Mandal, contributed to the occasion, reflecting on the events that shaped the nation’s history.