KHULNA, May 21, 2024 (BSS)-The 53rd 'Chuknagar Genocide Day' was observed here yesterday with a befitting manner through various programmes.

Khulna district administration and different socio-cultural organizations placed wreaths at the monument, a memorial, built near Bhadra River in memory of '71 martyred', marking the day.

The day’s programme was begun by hoisting of national flag at the' Chuknagar Ganohattya-71 Srimty Boddhyabhumi' under Dumuria upazila of the district.

Afterwards, different organizations including Khulna District Administration, Chuknagar Ganohattya-71 Smrity Rakkha Parishad, Chief Coordinator of Amra-71-Dhaka Samiran Sarker, Central Coordinator Imrul Chowdhury, Central Coordintor Iftekhar Rajib, Khulna Mahanagar Bangabandhu Parishad, Dumuria Upazila Muktijoddha Command, Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee, Bangabandhu Parishad and Jashore Udichi placed wreaths at 11 points of river Bhadra where Pakistani army left bodies of innocent Bengalis into the river after killing on that day in 1971.

A discussion was also held at the genocide memorial. President of Chuknagar Ganohattya -71 Smrity Rakkha Parishad ABM Shafiqul Islam presided over the meeting while Acting Principal of Chuknagar College Monirul Islam conducted it.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Al Amin addressed the meeting as chief guest while, Amra Ekattor Dhaka Helal Foyezi, among others, addressed the meeting.

Speakers at the meeting urged the government to declare May 20 as National Mourning Day to pay respect to the victims of Chuknagar massacre and trial of the war criminals at any cost.

They demanded to produce the evidences of Chuknagar Genocide before the Geneva Convention for justice and for building a Global Standard Liberation War Memorial, Research Center and auditorium.

Later, a cultural function was held there to pay respect to the martyrs of the War of Liberation in 1971.

On May 20, 1971, a several thousand men, women and children mostly belonging to minority community were brutally killed by the Pakistan occupation forces at Chuknagar where they gathered to go to India.

The forces sprayed bullets on them from light machine guns and semi-automatic rifles killing them on the spot within a few hours.

The victims of the massacre hailed mostly from Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jashore and Gopalganj districts.