DHAKA, Dec 14, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich
tributes to the martyred intellectuals on the occasion of the Martyred
Intellectuals Day.
The premier paid the homage by placing a wreath at the Martyred
Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city this morning.
After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a
mark of profound respect to the memories of the illustrious sons of the soil.
A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state
salute while the bugle played the last post at that time.
Members of the cabinet, parliament members, the chiefs of the three
services, the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) as well as high
civil and military officials were present.
Flanked by central leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the president
of Bangladesh Awami League, placed another wreath at the Martyred
Intellectuals Memorial as the party chief.
Later, she talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and the family
members of the martyred intellectuals and enquired about their wellbeing.
The premier later went to Dhanmondi in the capital and placed a wreath at
the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in
front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
After placing the wreath, she stood there for some time as a mark of
profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of the country’s
independence.
Flanked by central leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina laid another wreath
at the portrait of Bangabandhu as the party chief.
On the night of December 14 in 1971, over 200 Bangalee intellectuals,
including professors, journalists, doctors, artistes, engineers and writers,
were picked up in Dhaka by the Pakistani occupation forces in collusion with
their local collaborators.
The intellectuals were taken blindfolded to torture cells in Mirpur,
Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other locations in different parts of
the city and later executed en masse at different killing grounds, most
notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur.
Since then, the day is being observed as the Martyred Intellectuals Day.