RANGPUR, Dec 14, 2022 (BSS) - The supreme sacrifice of martyred intellectuals would be worthwhile if the people could build a prosperous country in the spirit of the great War of Liberation.
 
Former Chairman of Bangladesh University Grants Commission Professor Dr. AK Azad Chowdhury said this today while virtually addressing a discussion organised by Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) in observance of the Martyred Intellectuals Day- 2022 as the chief guest.
 
"Knowing that defeat is certain, the Pakistani occupation forces with local collaborators brutally killed intellectuals of the soil to make Bangladesh talentless. The killing of intellectuals is a barbaric and despicable event in the history of the world," he said.
 
He said the trial of Razakars, collaborators of the Pakistani occupation army, has been done, but their misdeeds do not stop disrupting the progress of the country.
 
He urged everyone to fulfil their responsibilities from their own positions to build a non-communal and prosperous Bangladesh in the spirit of the War of Liberation by resisting all conspiracies to make the supreme sacrifice of intellectuals meaningful.
 
Addressing the discussion as the chairperson, Vice-chancellor of BRUR Professor Dr. Md. Hasibur Rashid said intellectuals always help to manage the country properly with their talent, wisdom and experience.
 
"To stop the progress of Bangladesh, the killer group of 1971 carried out this massacre to make the nation talentless," he said.
 
He said information will be collected from the families of martyrs and intellectuals around Rangpur and a souvenir will be published in the future under the initiative of the university.
 
"Through this compilation of information in the souvenir, the new generations will get an opportunity to know the correct history," he added.

Pro Vice-chancellor of BRUR Professor Dr Sarifa Salowa Dina and Treasurer Professor Dr Mojib Uddin Ahamed addressed the event as special guests.
 
Poet and lyricist Masudul Haque and Advocate Feroz Kabir Gunjan participated in the discussion.
 
 
Moderated by Associate Professor of the Department of Bengali of BRUR Dr Shafikur Rahman, Convener of the Martyred Intellectuals Day-2022 Observance Committee Professor Kamolesh Roy, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Md Shariful Islam, General Secretary of Teachers' Association Syed Anwarul Azim and General Secretary of Officers' Association Mohammad Ali spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the Vice-chancellor with the Pro Vice-chancellor and Treasurer of the BRUR led a mourning procession and paid rich tribute to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the 'Domdoma Baddhyabhumi' marking the day.
 
Later, Deans of different faculties, Heads of different departments, provosts and officials, leaders of sociocultural organisations, Teachers' Association, Officers' Association, Employees' Union, Chhatra League, paid tributes.
 
Besides, the Vice-Chancellor placed wreaths at the mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after hoisting the national flag at half-mast and the black flag with the sunrise marking the day.
 
A doa mahfil was organised in the central mosque of the university seeking forgiveness for the departed souls of all martyred intellectuals after the Johr prayers.