The nation is observing the Martyred Intellectuals Day in a befitting manner on Sunday to commemorate the intellectuals killed systematically by Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the Liberation War in 1971.
Marking the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin paid homage to the nation’s intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur around 7am.
Later, he stood there silently for a while.
Followed by the president, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also paid tribute to the nation’s finest intellectuals and observed a silence for a while there.
Later, all walks of life were allowed to pay tribute to the valiant people of the country who were systematically killed the Pakistan occupation forces, in collaboration with their auxiliary forces.
On this day in 1971, the country’s renowned academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and murdered.
Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.
Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and their local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar committed the cold-blooded mass murders aiming to annihilate the country’s intelligentsia and cripple emerging Bangladesh intellectually.
Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Munier Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.
The interim government has chalked out elaborate programmes to commemorate the December 14 tragedy.
The family members of the martyred intellectuals and freedom fighters are paying homage to the martyred intellectuals marking the day.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages on the occasion of the day.
Leaders and activists of different political and social organisations are also paying homage to the martyred intellectuals at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard.
Special doa and munajat are scheduled to be offered at mosques, temples and churches marking the day.
Bangladesh Television and private television channels are broadcasting special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
National dailies also published special supplements marking the day.
