Govt bans light displays on Genocide Day

Staff Reporter :

The interim government has imposed a ban on light displays in buildings and structures nationwide on 25 March to commemorate Genocide Day. However, as in previous years, a symbolic one-minute blackout will be observed across the country on the night of 25 March.

These decisions were finalised during an inter-ministerial meeting held in Dhaka on Wednesday to discuss national programs for Genocide Day on 25 March and Independence and National Day on 26 March. Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam presided over the meeting, according to meeting minutes.

The symbolic blackout is scheduled to take place from 10:30pm to 10:31pm on 25 March. However, essential establishments, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and emergency facilities, will remain exempt from the blackout. Additionally, foreign missions in Bangladesh will not be required to participate.

In a departure from previous years, the government has decided to cancel the annual arms exhibition, which was traditionally held from 23 to 31 March.

The observance of Genocide Day marks the tragic events of 25 March 1971, when the Pakistani military launched “Operation Searchlight” in Dhaka. Under the cover of darkness, the occupation forces carried out widespread atrocities, with students, teachers, and staff at Dhaka University’s Jagannath Hall among the primary targets.

The government’s latest directives underscore the solemnity of the occasion, reinforcing its commitment to honoring the victims of one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history.