DHAKA, Dec 14, 2019 (BSS) – The nation is observing the Martyred
Intellectuals’ Day today in a befitting manner.
Just two days ahead of the country’s victory for independence on this day of 1971, 48 years ago, the marauding Pakistan army in collusion with their local collaborators – Al-
Badr, Al-Shams and Razakars – killed the most prominent intellectuals of the
country in a bid to cripple the newly emerging nation of Bangladesh.
A memorial erected in memory of the martyred intellectuals at Mirpur in
the capital has been covered in flowers as national leaders and people from all walks of
life are paying tributes by placing wreaths there. 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 and Al-Shams
forces on December 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 December 16, 1971 and their top accomplices mostly belonging
to Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing went into hiding to resurface years
later.
Those who were exposed to the killers’ wrath on December 14, 1971 included
Dr Alim Chowdhury and Dr Fazle Rabbi, Journalists Shahidullah Kaisar,
Sirajudddin Hossain, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan and Selina Parveen and
litterateur Monier Choudhury.
Most of the December 14 victims were picked up from their residences
blindfolded and killed during December 10 to 14 in 1971.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate
messages on the eve of the day, paying homage to the martyred intellectuals.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths
at Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in city’s Mirpur area this morning.
Members of martyred and freedom fighters also placed wreaths at
Martyred Intellectuals Memorial and Rayerbazar Killing Ground at Mohammadpur
in the morning.
People from all walks of life are too placing wreaths at Martyred Intellectuals
Memorial, honouring the greatest souls of the nation.
Bangladesh Television and private television channels are broadcasting
special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Discussions are being held at district and upazila level across the country.
Marking the day, ruling Awami League and other political parties have
chalked out various programmes.
National flags and AL’s party flag have been hoisted half-mast at its central
office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and important institutions at dawn marking the day
while Black flags are also hoisted at its all party offices across the
country.
The ruling party will organise a meeting at Krishibid Institution,
Bangladesh at 3 pm on December 14. Awami League President and Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina will preside over the meeting.
Dhaka University authorities are observing the day by taking different
programmes.
Different political, professional, social and cultural organisations,
including Jatiya Press Club, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangabandhu Gabeshana
Parishad, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Communist Party of
Bangladesh, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum,
Bangabandhu Parishad, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Sector Commanders’ Forum
and Liberation War Museum, have also chalked out elaborate programmes to
observe the day.
