Human rights activists in Bangladesh welcome US resolution against genocide by Pak Army in 1971

Dhaka, Oct 31: Human rights activists welcomed the introduction of a US resolution on the 1971 Bangladesh genocide by Pakistan during a press conference in Washington, US. On Oct 15, a proposed resolution was made in the House of Representatives urging US President Joe Biden to consider recognizing the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

 

 

 

 

The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) held the conference Friday at the National Press Club to discuss the recent introduction of the bipartisan House Resolution 1430-- "Recognizing the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971." The Congress on Friday (Oct 28) when the proposed resolution was made, was attended by members of the media, human rights activists, academics, entrepreneurs, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora community and Bangladesh's consul general to Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

They discussed the recent introduction of the resolution introduced by Congressman Steve Chabot, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and Co-Chair of the Bangladesh Caucus and co-sponsored by Congressman Ro Khanna and Congresswoman Katie Porter. Speaking at the conference, Priya Saha, Executive Director of HRCBM shed light on Pakistani atrocities on Bengalis. In 1971, she highlighted the Pakistani army and its allies "brutally raped more than 200,000 women and girls and slaughtered approximately 3 million people. Ten million people were displaced and had to seek asylum in neighboring India."

 

 

The Bangladesh government started to prosecute war criminals who collaborated with the Pakistan army. Bangladesh formed the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh. Since then, it has tried 49 war criminals. More than 500 instances are currently under investigation, while 36 cases are ongoing in court, HRCBM said in its press release.