Genocide Day observed in districts

The Genocide Day-2017 was observed in the districts- Gaibandha, Kishoreganj, Laxmipur, Meherpur, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, and Rangamati like elsewhere in the country for the first time on Saturday, in remembrance of the brutality carried out by the Pakistani army on the unarmed Bengalis on the black night of March 25 in 1971.
GAIBANDHA: Marking the day, district administration organised different programmes at the directives of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
In the morning around 10am, Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad and local lawmaker Mahabub Ara Begum Gini, Deputy Commissioner (DC) M Abdus Samad and Superintendent of Police (SP) M Masrukur Rahman Khaled placed wreaths on the martyred tombstone located at Old DC Office area in the town here in phases.
Then, Bangladesh Awami League, district unit, Gaibandha Pourashava, Zila Parishad, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, district and upazila unit command, Department of Narcotics Control, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Gaibandha Adarsha Degree College, and other socio-cultural organisations of the town also placed wreaths on the martyred tombstone to pay their rich tribute.
Later, a discussion meeting on the importance and significance of the day organised by district administration was also held at the auditorium of Zila Shilpakala Academy with DC M Abdus Samad in the chair.
Whip Mahabub Ara Begum Gini addressed the function as chief guest and SP Masrukur Rahman Khaled, general secretary of AL, district unit, Abu Bakar Siddique and Mayor of Gaibandha municipality Advocate Shah Masud Jahangir Kabir Milon were present as special guests while Assistant Commissioner of DC office Salma Khatun was the moderator.
KISHOREGANJ: To mark the day, the district administration organised different programmes.
The day's programmes started with hoisting of national and party flags at the District AL office and placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu and four national leaders.
Later, a discussion meeting was held at the district Cultural Academy hallroom. DC Md Azimuddin Biswas presided over the meeting, while Dilara Begum Asma, MP, was present there as chief guest.
It was addressed, among others, by Zila Parishad Chairman Md Zillur Rahman, Principal  of Government Gurudayal College Prof Ram Chandra Roy, District AL President Advocate Kamrul Ahasan Shajahan, its General Secretary Advocate MA Afzal, Civil Surgeon Dr Md Habibur Rahman, ADC (General) Tarafder Md Akhter Jamil, ASP Mahmudul Hasan, Upazila AL President Advocate Md Ataur Rahman, its General Secretary Principal Sharif Sadi, Freedom Fighter Sadar Unit Commander Advocate Motiur Rahman, Women Leader Bilkis Begum, Press Club President Kazi Shaheen Khan, Journalist Mostafa Kamal, Monowar Hossain Rony and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Masud.
LAXMIPUR: To mark the day, the district administration organised a discussion meeting at the conference room of deputy commissioner's office.
DC Md Zillur Rahman attended the meeting as chief guest with Additional Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Morshedul Islam in the chair.
Among others, Zila Parishad Chairman Alhaj Shamsul Islam, Superintendent of Police (SP) ASM Mahatab Uddin, ASP Md Shariful Islam, General Secretary of district unit of Awami League (AL) Advocate Nur Uddin Chowdhury Noyon, freedom fighters Kajal Kanti Das, Amir Hossain Molla, Mahbubur Rahman, and President of Bangladesh Medical Association Dr Ashfaqur Rahman Mamun were present there and spoke.
On the other hand, Mayor of Laxmipur municipality Abu Taher organised a separate discussion meeting in this regard.
MEHERPUR: The district administration observed here the day in a befitting manner. To mark the day, a discussion meeting followed by a cultural programme was held at local Shilpakala Academy auditorium.
DC Porimal Singh was present as chief guest while District Council Chairman Alhaj Golam Rasul, SP Anisur Rahman, Commander of district Muktijoddha Sangsad Boshiruddin Ahmmed, District Freedom fighters' commander, vice-presidents of district unit AL Abdus Samad and Abdul Halim, Advisor Haji Ashkar Ali, and General Secretary M A Khalek were present there as special guests.
Conducted by ADC Rashidul Mannaf Kabir, it was addressed, among others, by Rafiqul Alam, president of Meherpur District Development Forum, and Sportsman Rashid Hasan Khan.
PATUAKHALI: The day was observed with various programmes here in the district.
The district unit of AL brought out a mourning-procession from Shahid Alauddin Shishu Park that ended on the premises of martyred monument after parading main thoroughfares in the town. Later, wreaths were placed on the martyred tombstone there.
Information and Research Affairs Secretary Afzal Hossain, President of district unit of AL Advocate Md Shahjahan Mia, its General Secretary and Zila Parishad Chairman Khan Mosharof Hossain, and Joint-general Secretary Kazi Alamgir were present, among others, during the time.
Later, the district administration organised a  discussion meeting at the Shilpakala Academy.
PIROJPUR: In observance of the day, district administration, district AL and other socio-economic organisations organised various programmes.
District administration organised a discussion meeting at district Shilpakala academy in the morning.
ADC (General) Kazi Tofayel Hossain presided over the meeting while DC Md Khairul Alam Sheikh attended the meeting as chief guest and SP Md Walid Hossain was there as special guest.
Among others, Assistant Deputy Magistrate Md Mostafizur Rahman and Commander of district Muktijoddha Sangsad Samir Kumar Bachuchu spoke on the occasion.     
RANGAMATI: The district administration observed the day for the first time in remembrance of the brutal killing of innocent people carried out by the Pakistani Army on 25 March.
In this connection, a discussion meeting was held at Rangamati 'Shaheed Abdul Ali Maunch' in front of DC office in the morning.
Former State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Diponkar Talukder was present there as chief guest while DC Mohammad Manzarul Mannan presided over the meeting.
 It was addressed, among others, by Civil Surgeon of Rangamati Dr Shaheed Talukder, SP Sayed Tariqul Hasan, Mayor of Rangamati municipality Akbar Hossain Chowdhury, President of Rangamati Press club Shawkat Hossain Rubel, and ADC Abu Shahed Chowdhury. Speakers thanked government for announcing 25 March as 'Genocide Day'. 
Later, a cultural programme was
held there.