March 25, 1971 – Pakistani Armed Forces chief General Yahya Khan and the politician Zulfikar Ali Bhutto launched Operation Searchlight to demolish the independence demand of East Bengalis, known as Bangladesh now. The Pakistani army convoy that attacked Dhaka University on 25 March 1971 included 18 Panjabi, 22 Beluch, 32 Panjabi regiment and several battalions. Armed with heavy weapons such as tanks, automatic rifles, rocket launchers, heavy mortar, light machine gun, they encircled Dhaka University. They killed teachers, student, girls and who wasn’t their victim. Archer K. Blood the then consul general of US at Dhaka wrote in his book The Cruel Birth of Bangladesh, “Fire was started at Rokeya Hall (girls’ dormitory) and when the students tried to escape, the military started firing and firing. This night is known as the black night of Bangladeshi history. From the next day Bangladeshi people jumped over Pakistani Armed Forces for the hunger of independence.
March 25, 2015 – It’s been 44 years now. Bangladesh is a independent country now. Even after 44 years the black night of 1971 is still haunting Bangladeshi people’s dream. Dream have been achieved but the memories are still clinching. For the remembrance of those brave Bangladeshi people who have gave their life at March 25 1971, Bangladeshi Social Activists of Lal Jatra made a rally with street act performance, singing and torch lit procession at March 25 2015. They have started from Chobir Hat, Charukola, Dhaka University and ended at Sohrawardi Uddyan, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Anik Rahman 