The nation on Wednesday (Dec 14) observed the Martyred Intellectuals' Day paying glowing tributes to the intellectuals who were brutally killed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the country's Liberation War in 1971.
Sensing a humiliating defeat, the retreating Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators – Rajakars, Al- Badrs and Al-Shams – dragged off the frontline Bangalee intellectuals and worthy professionals from their houses on December 14 and assassinated them with the intention of crippling the newborn nation intellectually.
Marking the day, hundreds of people from all walks of life converged at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur and the Rayer Bazar killing ground (Baddhobhumi) to pay their homage to the worthy sons of the soil, local media reported.
The programmes of the day included raising black flag and hoisting of the national flag at half mast, placing of wreaths at the martyred intellectuals memorials and graveyards, discussions, lighting of candles in memory of the martyrs, morning marches, and milad and doa mahfils seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.
President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid deep homage to the martyred intellectuals of 1971 at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur.
The head of the state placed the wreath at the memorial at about 7:05 in the morning to pay homage to the great heroes, who embraced martyrdom for the cause of the country and the nation, just two days before the final victory during the 1971 Liberation War. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals there on the occasion.
After placing the wreaths, the president and the PM stood in silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyred intellectuals.
A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and the Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post. Later, flanked by party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, placed another wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as the chief of her party.
Bangladesh Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Shajahan Khan, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram and Kamrul Islam, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, SM Kamal Hossain and Afzal Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Publicity Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Science and Technology Secretary Abdus Sabur, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present, among others, on the occasion.
Later, Jatiyo Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and family members of martyred and war-victims placed wreaths there.
Later on, the premier went to Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital and laid a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum there to pay homage to the Architect of the Independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time to show profound respect to the great leader of Bangladesh. The premier also placed another wreath there as Awami League party-chief with the party leaders.
Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transports and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader along with the central leaders of the party laid wreaths on behalf of Awami League at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Awami League presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain and Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua were present, among others.
Apart from Awami League, various social-political and cultural organizations including BNP, Jatiyo Party, Communist Party, Jasad, Awami Jubo League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Matsyajibi League, Swechasebak League, Dhaka University, Dhaka University Teachers Association, Bangabandhu Sainik League, Jatiya Sramik League, Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Kendrio Khela-ghor Asor, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Dhaka South City Corporation, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Muktijoddha Saghati Parishad, Dhaka North and South City units of Awami League, various ward units of Awami League and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote placed wreaths.
Besides, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque paid tribute by laying wreath at the Rayer Bazar killing ground (Baddhobhumi). Later, various political, social and cultural organizations including Awami League, Jubo League, Swechasebak League, Sramik League, Chhatra League paid tribute to the martyrs there by placing wreaths.
Marking the day, Awami League organized a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital at 3 p.m. with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome speech on the occasion.
The Pakistani troops and their Bengali-speaking collaborators belonging to Razakar or other auxiliary forces killed a number of intelligentsia throughout the nine-month long Liberation War.
But, they visibly engaged the infamous Gestapo like Al-Badr forces on Dec 14, 1971 to carry out a systematic campaign to kill the most eminent academics and professionals like doctors, engineers and journalists to make the newborn nation to a state of brainlessness.
The then Bangladesh government and victorious freedom fighters, however, came to know about their last brutal massacre only when the Pakistani troops surrendered on Dec 16, 1971 and their top accomplices mostly belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing went into hiding to resurface years later.
Most of the Dec 14 victims were picked up from their residences blindfolded and killed between Dec 10 and 14 in 1971.
