US Congressmen introduce resolution to recognise Pakistani atrocities during 1971 as Genocide

Two US Congressmen have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to declare Pakistan Army atrocities committed during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh as an act of genocide and crime against humanity. The resolution placed by Congressman Steve Chabot and Ro Khanna condemns the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army between March- December 1971 against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus and death and suffering of countless people. It demands the President of the US to recognise the atrocities of Pakistan army as crimes  against humanity, war crimes and genocide. 

Recalling the well-documented anti-Bengali sentiment of the then West Pakistani officials, the resolution traces the historical development of that period with the victory of Awami League in the general election of 1970 led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The resolution recalls the comment of General Yahya Khan in a meeting on February 22, 1971 asking his top military brass to kill 3 million of the then East



Pakistanis. 

It was followed by the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the night of 25 March 1971 and a general and widespread crackdown in East Pakistan named ‘Operation Searchlight’. It led to the large-scale massacre of civilians during which enthnic Bengalis and Hindus were scapegoated. It targeted supporters of Awami League, intellectuals, students, and professionals while victims included members of both majority Bengali Muslims and minority non-Muslim communites, says the resolution. 

Calling the 1971 as one of the forgotten genocides of the 20th century, the resolution says, its lack of recognition remains an open wound for millions of the victims of the genocied. 

The resolution also calls upon the government of Pakistan to acknowledge its role in the genocide and offer formal apology to the government and people of Bangladesh and prosecute any perpetrators who are still living in accordance with international law.