The country will plunge into darkness for a minute at 9pm to coincide the 'darkness' of the day 47 years ago. This is for the first time the authorities have urged the people to switch off the power supply for a minute across the country to mark the day.

Bangladesh has been demanding that the United Nations should declare the day as the World Genocide Day as a sign of protest against the genocides carried out in other countries.

This is the second year Bangladesh is observing day after the parliament passed a motion declaring the day as the Genocide Day last year.

All government offices will switch off their lights everywhere, except for key point installations of KPIs, for a minute. The people will also have to turn lights off to take part in the vigil as the authorities decided not to cut power connections centrally.

The Pakistan Army swooped on unarmed Bengalis on the night of Mar 25 in a brutal bid to crush their struggle for freedom.

Codenamed ‘Operation Searchlight’, it carried out genocide in the first hours of that night in Dhaka.

Bengalis retaliated with spectacular resistance and fought for nine months of Liberation War to snatch victory on Dec 16 when occupying Pakistani forces surrendered to the allied forces backed by India.

Bangladesh’s Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence before being arrested by the Pakistani forces the same night.

Different political, social and cultural organisations will organise programmes marking the day.

The Awami League will hold a discussion. Its chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver a speech at the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The Dhaka University will hold a candlelight vigil at Smriti Chironton at 7pm. A documentary will be exhibited there besides a discussion.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee will lit 47 candles to mark 47 years of the genocide and a torch procession.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate statements, describing Genocide Day as a ‘strong protest’ against the genocide carried out by the Pakistani occupation forces.

The president said the genocide on Mar 25, 1971, is a brutal and grievous incident in the history of mankind.

"None can forget the horrors of the genocide," he said.

Hamid urged all irrespective of caste and creed to establish a non-communal and democratic country imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War.

Hasina said the decision to observe Genocide Day is a manifestation of paying tributes to the martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices to liberate Bangladesh.

"The decision of observing the day as 'Genocide Day' is a milestone in the history of the country and nation," she said.