US congressman Steve Chabot, along with congressman of Indian origin Ro Khanna, introduced a resolution in US House of Representatives to declare Pakistan Army’s action against Bengalis in 1971 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh as “genocide” and “crime against humanity”.
Chabot said, Bangladesh Genocide of 1971 must not be forgotten, reports UNB.
“With help from my Hindu constituents in Ohio’s First District, Rep Ro Khanna and I introduced legislation to recognize that the mass atrocities committed against Bengalis, were indeed genocide,” he said.
The US congressman said they must not let the years erase the memory of the millions who were massacred by Pakistani military.
“Recognizing the genocide strengthens the historical record, educates our fellow Americans, and lets would-be perpetrators know such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten,” Steve Chabot tweeted.
Congressman Ro Khanna said, “Proud to join Rep Steve Chabot in introducing the first resolution commemorating the 1971 Bengali Genocide in which millions of Bengalis were killed or displaced in one of the most forgotten genocides of our time.”
The 8-page resolution titled "Recognizing the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971" calls on the government of Pakistan, in the face of overwhelming evidence, to offer acknowledgement of its role in such genocide, offer formal apologies to the government and people of Bangladesh, and prosecute, in accordance with international law, any perpetrators who are still living.
It condemns the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh from March 1971 to December 1971; recognizes that such atrocities against Bengalis, constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide; recalls the death and suffering of the countless victims of such atrocities and expresses its deep sympathy for the suffering.
The resolution recognizes that entire ethnic groups or religious communities are not responsible for the crimes committed by their members; calls on the President of the United States to recognize the atrocities committed against ethnic Bengalis by the Pakistani military during 1971 as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
Bd-pratidin Neglish/Tanvir Raihan
