Martyred Intellectuals Day today

The nation is observing the Martyred Intellectuals Day today in a befitting manner to recall the intellectuals who were killed by the Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971.

Just two days ahead of the country’s victory, the occupation Pakistan army in collusion with their local collaborators - Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakars - butchered 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 readied as national leaders and people from all walks of life will pay glowing tributes by placing wreaths there.

The national programs have been chalked out to observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day with due respect.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.

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 Chowdhury, Prof Govinda Chandra Dev, Jyotirmoy Guha Thakurta, Professor Santash Chattacharjee, Professor Anwar Pasha, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury and Professor Muniruzzaman.

Most of the December 14 victims were picked up from their houses blindfolded and killed from December 10 to 14 in 1971.

ARR