Dhaka, March 25 -- Bangladesh is commemorating the martyrs of the genocide committed by the Pakistani forces on the night of Mar 25, 1971, to suppress the Bengali people's fervent struggle for freedom.

The Bengali nation launched its Liberation War in the wake of the horrors carried out under Operation Searchlight that night. Nine months later, independent and sovereign Bangladesh emerged on the world map.

On Wednesday, the nation will honour the martyrs of that dark night through various programmes to mark what has now been recognised as "Genocide Day".

WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT

While political negotiations were ongoing between Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the national elections, the Pakistani military had alrea...