Operation Searchlight

Operation Searchlight was a military crackdown carried out by the Pakistani Army on March 25, 1971, in Dhaka, then part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Its goal was to suppress demands for Bengali autonomy and independence. The operation involved widespread attacks on political activists, students, and civilians, leading to mass killings, atrocities, and chaos. This brutal assault marked the beginning of the Bangladesh Liberation War, ultimately resulting in East Pakistan gaining independence and becoming Bangladesh in 1971. The operation is remembered as a tragic event due to the loss of many innocent lives.