DHAKA, Dec 14, 2020 (BSS) – The nation today 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’ Mausoleum in Mirpur and the Rayer Bazar
killing ground (Baddhobhumi), maintaining the health guidelines, to
pay their homage to the worthy sons of the soil.
The programmes of the day included raising of black flag and
hoisting of the national flag half mast, placing of wreaths at the
martyred intellectuals memorials and graveyards, discussions, lighting
of candles in memory of the martyrs, morning marches, painting,
general knowledge and hand writing competitions and milad and doa
mahfils seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid their
homage to the martyred intellectuals of 1971.
On behalf of President Hamid, Military Secretary Maj Gen SM
Shamim-uz-Zaman paid homage at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at
7.10 am on Monday while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Military
Secretary Maj Gen Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury paid the tribute on her
behalf.
A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a
state salute while the bugle played the last post at that time.
Later, on behalf of Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin
Chaudhury and Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, Serjeant-at-Arms MM
Naim Rahman and on behalf Liberation War Affairs Ministry AKM Mozammel
Haque paid homage at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Besides, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and
Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader along with party’s central leaders
paid homage to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Mirpur
Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at 9am.
Different political, professional, social and cultural
organisations, including Jatiya Party, BNP, Communist Party, Jatiya
Samajtantrik Dal, Awami Jubo League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami
Matsyjibi League, Bangladesh Swechchhasebak League, Dhaka University,
Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Bangabandhu Sainik League,
Jatiya Sramik League, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, Kendrio
Khelaghor Asor, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Dhaka
south and north city corporations, Dhaka city south unit of Awami
League, different ward units of Awami League, Bangabandhu Sangskritik
Jote, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad and
Dhaka Reporters’ Unity also paid homage to the martyred intellectuals.
Later, Obaidul Quader, on behalf of Awami League, also paid tributes
to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying a
wreath at his portrait at Dhanmondi road number 32 in the city at
9.30am.
AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Md Abdur Razzaque,
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Shajahan Khan and Abdur Rahman, Joint
Secretaries Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul-Alam Hanif
and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, SM
Kamal Hossain and Mirza Azam, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs
Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil,
Labour Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, Health and Population
Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Science and Technology Affairs
Secretary Abdus Sabur, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Central
Working Committee Members Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Shahabuddin
Farazi and Anisur Rahman were present at that time.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque at first paid
homage to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the
Rayerbazar Killing ground in the morning. Later, different political,
professional, social and cultural organisations, including Awami
League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League and Chhatra
League placed wreaths at the Rayerbazar Killing Ground.
Marking the day, Dhaka University authorities organised a virtual
discussion at the university’s Abdul Matin Virtual Class Room with
Vice Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
Earlier, national flag was hoisted half mast and black flag was
raised on the campus. Later, a special munajat was offered at the
central mosque of the university seeking eternal peace of the departed
souls of the most enlightened sons of the soil.
Besides, Islamic Foundation organised Quran Khwani, milad and doa
mahfil at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque where special prayers
(munajat) and doa were offered for eternal peace of the departed souls
of the martyrs.
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 Munir Choudhury.
Most of the December 14 victims were picked up from their
residences blindfolded and killed between December 10 and 14 in 1971.