[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMMEMORATING THE 1971 BENGALI GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 26, 2021

  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I join with my Bengali constituents to honor 
and commemorate the tragedy that befell Bangladesh 50 years ago and the 
millions whose lives were lost or disrupted.
  The 1971 Bengali Genocide was one of the worst human tragedies of the 
20th century, with over 2 million lives lost and over 10 million 
displaced. In addition, over 200,000 women were violently raped. The 
campaign of sexual violence against women in particular was so severe 
that the United Nations was bringing in doctors to help treat these 
women.
  These terrible events began on March 25, 1971, with ``Operation 
Searchlight''--a military operation that intentionally targeted 
civilians because of the language they spoke and the religion they 
practiced. It was a deliberately brutal response meant to silence 
Bengali voices and erase Bengali culture while snuffing out the flame 
of self-determination.
  Fortunately, this genocidal attempt failed, but not before too many 
paid the ultimate price. And the survivors still carry their scars, 
even fifty years later.
  This violence was made worse by the failure of the United States to 
speak out against it. That is why I am urging the U.S. government and 
all Americans of conscience to not only join me in remembering this 
genocide and those we lost, but also to speak out against this kind of 
violence against civilians wherever it occurs. I also encourage more 
Americans to learn about what happened in the 1971 Bengali Massacre so 
that we can start telling the truth about this genocide.

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