Urging all those who believe in the spirit of the liberation war to unite for the recognition of the genocide of 1971, Liberation War minister AKM Mozammel Haque said that the international recognition of the genocide carried out by the Pakistani invading forces on the liberation-seeking people of Bangladesh has not been achieved even in 51 years.
Three organizations named Bangladesh Support Group (BASUG), an expatriate organization in the Netherlands, Amra Ekattar and Projonmo 71 organized the press conference at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club on Sunday afternoon.
The conference was organised with the aim of obtaining UN recognition of the genocide committed in Bangladesh during the Liberation War.
AKM Mozammel Haque said that the government led by Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, had declared March 25 as National Genocide Day. It is important to give international recognition to this day, he believes.
"The genocide incident of '71 will be informed to the world during the time allocated for Bangladesh in the United Nations. The international recognition of Bangladesh genocide will pave the way," the Minister of Liberation War Affairs said.
Read: Discussion in UN: Recognition of 1971 genocide sought
"It should be monitored that this event (genocide) cannot be legitimized by falsehood and untruth," he adddd.
He also added "We are delivering to all embassies of the world through the Ministry of Liberation War and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
In response to a question, the minister said that Bangabandhu took the initiative to prosecute the war criminals after the independence of the country. But the trial was stopped after he was killed with his family.
Anti-independence citizens were given citizenship. But the present government started the trial after coming to power. A law has been passed in Parliament to prepare the list of Razakar-Albadars. Hopefully the election commission will cancel the registration of the parties opposing the liberation war, he assured.
The press conference also informed that the issue of genocide during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 was included in agenda number 3 in the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) held in Geneva this year. This agenda is included in the joint petition of Basug, Amra Ekattar and Projonmo 71. On the initiative of Basug, the United Nations Human Rights Council has allocated a hall in Geneva for an hour on October 3.
Read: International coalition of rights bodies calls for recognition of 1971 genocide
Asif Munir, the president of Projonmo 71 and martyred child, said that it is difficult to get the recognition of genocide. There is international politics, that's why genocide of other countries is not recognized. But we have a chance, since it will be held in the UN building.
He said, a momentum is being created through the ongoing program. If we can go ahead with this, let the issue of Bangladesh be raised on International Genocide Day on December 9.
Programme announced for recognition:
From September 25 to October 3, rallies and human chains in front of press clubs will be arranged in various districts of Bangladesh.
Rallies and human chains will be organised on October 2 at 4 pm at the United Nations Building in New York, in front of the Bangladesh Embassy in London, in Sydney, Australia, and in Toronto and Montreal, Canada,
Discussion will be organised at the United Nations building in Geneva on October 3 at 3 pm while the central programme to be held in Dhaka on this day will be announced later.
Protest rallies will be organized in the designated slaughterhouses of Bangladesh.