Bangladesh Genocide

Bangladesh Genocide

On March 25, 1971, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight in Dhaka and other major cities of East Pakistan, targeting Bengali nationalists, intellectuals, students, and civilians. The military operation aimed to suppress the movement for Bangladesh’s independence.

The campaign involved mass killings, sexual violence, arson, and widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. Urban centers and villages were attacked, and large numbers of civilians were forcibly displaced. The military specifically targeted members of the Hindu minority and perceived supporters of the independence movement.

Estimates indicate that between 300,000 and 3,000,000 people were killed and tens of millions were displaced. International organizations have classified the events as genocide and crimes against humanity. The atrocities contributed directly to the Bangladesh Liberation War and eventual independence in December 1971.