NN ONLINE:
The Martyred Intellectuals Day was observed across the country today with due respect, paying rich tribute to the martyred intellectuals.
The nation recalled the mass killing of a large number of Bangladesh’s top brains by the Pakistan army and their collaborators visibly sensing their defeat just two days ahead of the emergence of Dhaka as the free capital of free Bangladesh.
The occupation troops and their Bengali speaking collaborators carried out a systemic killing throughout the nine months of the great Liberation War but the December 14 appeared to be a systematic massacre to expose the new born country to a state of brainlessness. National programmes were chalked out to observe the day in a befitting manner. Different political and socio-cultural organisations also chalked out various programmes marking the day.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing a wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city around 7.22 am. After placing the wreath, the Chief Adviser stood there in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the illustrious sons of the soil. A smartly turned-out contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces offered a state salute while the bugle played the last post.
After paying the homage, the Chief Adviser exchanged greetings with the Chief Justice, advisers of the interim government, top civil and military officials, the injured valiant freedom fighters and family members of martyred intellectuals there. Earlier, President Mohammed Shahabuddin paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing a wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial around 7.04 am. After their paying of tributes, the memorial was opened to people of all walks of life. Subsequently, various political, social, and professional organisations paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals one by one.
Leaders and workers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir paid tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the memorial. Party’s senior leaders accompanied him.
After paying tributes, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke to journalists. “On December 14, Martyred Intellectuals Day, when the nation is once again dreaming of building a new democratic Bangladesh, the enemies of the country have engaged in killings and violence.” Expressing deep concern over several recent incidents, he said, “Such conspiratorial and subversive activities are attempts to obstruct the country’s democratic progress.”
He said on this day, on behalf of the BNP, as well as on behalf of the ailing party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, profound respect was paid to the martyred intellectuals.
At the same time, a pledge was taken to protect independence, sovereignty, and democracy, and tribute was paid to all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for democracy and the country, he said. BNP’s different units and affiliated and front organisations also paid tributes. Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), led by its convener Nahid Islam, also paid homage to the martyred intellectuals.
Nahid Islam said, “On this day in 1971, pro-Liberation War writers, literary figures, journalists, and other intellectuals were methodically killed so that Bangladesh could not stand on its own feet.”
He said even today, planned targeted killings are taking place to foil elections and democratic uprisings. Nahid demanded those involved in such crimes must be identified and brought to justice. He also called for building a new Bangladesh on the basis of national unity, embracing the aspirations of 1971, 1947, and 2024.
Among the political parties, Gano Forum, Nagorik Oikya, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Biplabi Workers Party, BASAD (Marxist), Jatiya Janata Party, Biplabi Communist League, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and Gonosanghati Andolon paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals.
Various social and cultural organisations and professional bodies also paid tributes. Meanwhile, leaders and activists of various political parties, socio cultural organisations, students and people from all walks of life paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals at the Rayerbazar Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in the capital.
From the early hours of the day, people began placing  wreaths at the memorial under the banners of different parties and organisations to honour the memories of the nation’s brightest sons who were killed in 1971. As the morning advanced, a large number of visitors gathered at the site. During visits in the morning, the presence of school and college students and general people was more noticeable.
Freedom fighters, BNP leaders and activists from different units, Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) leaders, students from Dhaka University halls, Dhaka College, Dhaka Commerce College, Residential Model College and several other educational institutions, along with political and voluntary organisations, paid homage at the memorial since this  morning. Former Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain also paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals at the Rayerbazar memorial in the morning.
