President, PM pay tributes to martyred intellectuals

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur this morning, marking Martyred Intellectuals Day.

On behalf of the President, his military secretary Major General S M Salah Uddin Islam placed wreath at the monument this morning to pay tributes to those who lost lives days before Bangladesh’s final victory in the War of Liberation in 1971.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, her Military Secretary Major General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury laid the wreath around 7.05 am to pay homage to the great heroes of the country.

The day is being observed on a limited scale due to the COVID-19 situation.

As many as 200 illustrious sons of the soil, including professors, journalists, doctors, artists, engineers and writers, were abducted from their respective residences blindfolded and made hostage from December 10 to 14 in 1971.

They were taken blindfolded to torture cells at Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other spots in different city parts.

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.

Since then, the day is being observed as Martyred Intellectuals Day.

Like last year, the day is still being observed on a limited scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

ARR