Bangladesh Celebrates Independence Day

Just after midnight, war veterans, victims' families and supporters across Bangladesh switched off their lights for a minute of remembrance for the millions of Bangladeshis killed in the 1971 war and to demand the punishment of war criminals and collaborators.

Thousands also gathered at the Shahid Minar, a memorial for soldiers in downtown Dhaka, lighting candles and shouting for war criminals to be prosecuted.

On March 26, 1971, Bangladesh, then the eastern flank of Pakistan, declared its independence from Islamabad following years of political and economic discrimination by West Pakistan. Official figures say about 3 million people were killed and millions more displaced during an ensuing nine-month war.

East Pakistan officially became the nation of Bangladesh on Dec. 16, 1971.

While the majority of East Pakistanis supported the 1971 war, a few sided with Pakistan, assisting in the killing, torture and rape of their compatriots. Most collaborators were not punished because of a general amnesty in 1973. Others avoided prosecution when a law against collaborators was repealed in 1975.

Subsequent governments have not addressed the issue, despite repeated calls for justice.

The Sector Commanders' Forum, made up of guerrilla leaders from the 1971 war, organized the blackout early Wednesday.

The forum said it hoped the demonstration would highlight its demands for the establishment of a special war crimes tribunal, and the barring of known war criminals and collaborators from political office, according to The Independent newspaper.