Martyred Intellectuals Day today
Staff Reporter :
The nation is observing Martyred Intellectuals Day today (Sunday), commemorating the intellectuals who were systematically killed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators in the final days of the Liberation War in 1971.
On this day in 1971, eminent academicians, physicians, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other leading figures of the country were forcibly taken from their homes, blindfolded, and carried to undisclosed locations, where they were brutally tortured and murdered.
Their bodies were later discovered at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and several other killing fields in the capital.
Anticipating their inevitable defeat, the Pakistani forces, along with collaborators such as Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar, carried out these cold-blooded killings with the intent of wiping out the nation’s intelligentsia and leaving the newly emerging Bangladesh intellectually crippled.
The martyred intellectuals include 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 drawn up extensive programmes to observe the December 14 tragedy.
Family members of the martyred intellectuals and freedom fighters will pay tribute on the occasion.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages marking the observance.
Leaders and activists of various political and social organisations will also place wreaths 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 TV channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day, while national dailies will publish special supplements.