On the fateful night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army officially launched its campaign of genocide in erstwhile East Pakistan, by unleashing death squads that mercilessly killed 7,000 unarmed, innocent Bengalis in one single night.

Academics and researchers campaigning for the United Nations recognition of March 25 as International Genocide Day yesterday urged the government to launch a formal initiative to that end.

A motion will be placed in Parliament to observe March 25 as mass killing day.

The nation celebrates the 45th Independence and National Day today to pay tributes to the martyrs and valiant sons of the land who laid down their lives for the country's independence.

The nation today recalls the Black Night of March 25.