RANGPUR, Dec 14, 2021 (BSS) - Academics at a virtual discussion today said

the Pakistani invaders with their local collaborators Razakars, Al-badars and
Al-shams killed the country's sun-born intellectuals to make the nation
talentless.

   Terming killings of intellectuals as a black chapter in the history of the
Great War of Liberation War, they said the anti-liberation forces killed
intellectuals aiming at turning the evident independence of Bangladesh
worthless.

   Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) organized the virtual discussion
in observance of the Martyred Intellectuals' Day-2021 with its Vice-
chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Hasibur Rashid on the chair in his office room.

   Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Professor
Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Haji Mohammad Danesh University of
Science and Technology Professor Dr M Kamruzzaman and Pro Vice-chancellor of
BRUR Professor Dr Sarifa Salowa Dina virtually took part as discussants.

   Professor Sharfuddin said the Pakistani occupation army and their local
collaborators wanted to stop the progress of Bangladesh through the brutal
massacre of the intellectuals on December 14, 1971.

   "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the able daughter of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has made the supreme sacrifice of
intellectuals meaningful today by taking Bangladesh ahead on all indicators
of developments," he said.

   Professor Kamruzzaman said the heinous plan of the Pakistani occupation
army and their local allies was not realized by killing the country's sun-
child intellectuals 50 years ago.

   "Everyone must be united to maintain the prosperity of the country and to
resist national and international conspiracies to build a developed Sonar
Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu," he said.

   Professor Dina said, "Martyred Intellectuals' Day is an important event in
our national life. This brutal killing was an attempt by the anti-
independence forces to make Bangladesh leaderless."

   Paying his rich tribute to all the heroic martyrs killed in the Great War
of Liberation including intellectuals, Professor Hasibur urged all to unite
and take the country forward by resisting all evil forces.

   He hoped that the country would be a happy and prosperous non-communal
Bangladesh for the next generations under the leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.

   Earlier, Vice-chancellor Professor Hasibur with teachers and officials of
BRUR placed wreaths at the Domdoma mass grave in Rangpur city paying homage
to the memory of the martyrs.

   Later, tributes were paid by the Treasurer of the university, Deans of
various faculties, Heads of different departments, offices and residential
halls, social and cultural organizations, teachers' association, officers'
association and employees' union of the university.

   A milad mehfil was organized and special munajats offered at the Central
Mosqueof the university after the Johr prayers seeking divine forgiveness of
the souls of the martyred intellectuals.