Cultural organisations and institutions observed Genocide Day with series of programmes across the capital on Wednesday, commemorating the massacre the Pakistani military perpetrated on March 25, 1971 in the then East Pakistan.

Theatre troupe Prachyanat staged its annual street performance titled Lal Jatra on the Dhaka University campus, commemorating the genocide victims who were slain in the overnight crackdown starting on the night of March 25.

The 16th edition of Lal Jatra featured a procession with songs and performance art that began at the Swoparjita Swadhinata Chattar, adjacent to the Teacher-Student Centre on the campus, ending at the Smriti Chirantar Chattar on Fuller Road.

Participants paid respects to the martyrs by lighting candles at the site.

Sylvia Chowdhury Chitra, a member of Prachyanat, led the procession, portraying the character of a mother.

‘Humanity is in danger all over the world. From Palestine and Gaza to Lebanon, the battlefields of Ukraine and Russia, Sudan, or the power struggle between Iran and America—everywhere today, only innocent blood flows,’ said Jaganmoy Paul.

Prachyanat organised the annual event to protest at the March 25 genocide and to demand international recognition of the 1971 genocide.

A torch-lit procession titled Alor Michil was jointly organised by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Juba Union, and Khelaghar Asar in the evening.

The march began at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, and ended at Shikha Chirantan in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Cultural activists from the Dhanmondi-Mohammadpur area organised an event titled Cholo Alo Jalai with songs and recitations at Dhanmondi 27, near Meena Bazar.