Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei observed the Genocide Day with due solemnity on 25 March. Bangladeshis living in Brunei were the chief participants of the programme. At the beginning of the event, Hafez Habibullah recited from the Holy Quran while prayers were offered for the eternal salvation of all those martyred on the fateful night of 25 March 1971, read a press release.

The participants also prayed for the salvation of those killed during the war and for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A minute of silence was also observed in their memories. The Bangladesh High Commissioner Nahida Rahman Shumona read out messages delivered by the president and prime minister of Bangladesh.

A video documentary was screened, depicting the history and background of the Genocide Day. Paying rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangladesh High Commissioner, in her remarks, condemned the brutality of the Pakistan military during 1971 in severe terms. She said that the merciless killing of innocent people who clamoured for independence and self-determination was pathetic, and unacceptable. She added “the blood of the martyrs did not go in vain, as we became independent after nine months of long bloody war. However, it is difficult to forget the memories of the genocide which left an indelible black mark on our national psyche. To prevent such genocidal incident occurring again in any place of the world, we need the global recognition of the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide.” Jashim, a Bangladesh community member maintained that the kind of barbarism Pakistani forces demonstrated cannot be condoned by any logic, calling for widespread condemnation of the Pakistani military acts from within the international community as well as global recognition for “Genocide Day’ “