In the House of Representatives, two US congressmen—including Ro Khanna, who is of Indian descent—introduced legislation designating the Pakistan Army’s acts during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War as “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.”
Such atrocities against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus are recognised as crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide in the legislation that Ro Khanna and Congressman Steve Chabot presented.
The legislation read, a copy of which was posted by Chabot on his Twitter handle, stating”…condemns the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh from March to December 1971; acknowledges that such atrocities against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide; calls on the President of the United States to recognise the atrocities committed against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus by the Armed Forces of Pakitan during 1971 as crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.”
Legislation, according to Congressman Chabot, aims to acknowledge that the widespread crimes committed against Bengalis and Hindus in particular constituted a genocide.
“The 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh must not be forgotten. @RepRoKhanna and I filed legislation to acknowledge that mass crimes done against Bengalis and Hindus, in particular, were, in fact, a genocide, with the assistance of my Hindu constituents in Ohio’s First District ” tweeted Representative Chabot.
He further added “The remembrance of the millions who were massacred must not be lost to time. By acknowledging the genocide, we may improve the historical record, inform our countrymen, and warn potential offenders that their atrocities won’t be tolerated or forgotten.”
The eight-page law also refers to a telegram headed “Selective Genocide” that was issued by Archer Blood, the American consul general in Dacca, on March 28, 1971.
