Martyred Intellectuals Day today
The nation is observing Martyred Intellectuals Day on Sunday to commemorate the intellectuals who were systematically killed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag end of the Liberation War in 1971.
On this day in 1971, renowned academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged from their homes, blindfolded, taken to unknown locations, and brutally tortured and murdered.
Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and several other killing fields in the capital.
Sensing imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and their local collaborators—Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar—carried out the cold-blooded mass killings in an attempt to annihilate the country’s intelligentsia and cripple the intellectual foundation of emerging Bangladesh.
Among the martyred intellectuals were 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, and 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.
Family members of the martyred intellectuals and freedom fighters will pay homage to the martyrs on the occasion.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages marking the day.
Leaders and activists of various political and social organisations will also pay homage at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur.
Special doa and munajat will be offered at mosques, temples and churches across the country.
Bangladesh Television and private television channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day, while national dailies will publish special supplements marking the occasion.
Source: UNB