US Move to Recognize 1971 Bangladesh Killings as Genocide

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Dhaka
• Mar 21, 2026
• 13

A significant resolution has been introduced in the United States Congress, calling for the formal recognition of the 1971 atrocities in Bangladesh as genocide.

The resolution, tabled by Congressman Greg Landsman, asserts that during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Pakistan Army carried out widespread killings, systematic sexual violence, and large-scale human rights abuses amounting to genocide and crimes against humanity.

It further highlights that Bengali Hindus were deliberately targeted during the conflict and calls for accountability, including scrutiny of groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami.

The resolution also urges the President of the United States to formally acknowledge these events and to prioritise the protection and security of minority communities in Bangladesh.

According to historical estimates, hundreds of thousands were killed during the conflict, over 200,000 women were subjected to brutal violence, and millions were displaced from their homes.

To date, the United States has not officially recognised the 1971 atrocities as genocide. If adopted, the resolution would mark a landmark shift in Washington’s historical and diplomatic stance on one of South Asia’s most tragic chapters.