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Ovaherero Genocide Foundation

1971 Bangladesh

Bengalis and Hindus

On March 26, 1971 a military crackdown known as Operation Searchlight was launched in East Pakistan against Bengalis and Hindus. Politicians, students, teachers, and activists in Dhaka were targeted. Part of the plan was to disrupt telephone, radio, TV, and other communication services across domestic and international lines. The conflict lasted about 9 months and about 3 million were killed, although some researchers estimate it much lower. Hundreds of thousands of women were raped and millions were displaced.