Martyred Intellectuals’ Day tomorrow

The nation is set to commemorate tomorrow the intellectuals who embraced martyrdom at the hands of the Pakistani occupation army and their local cohorts during the War of Independence, especially at the fag end of the war in 1971. Just two days ahead of the country’s victory on this day 48 years ago, the marauding Pakistan army in collusion with their local collaborators – Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakars – killed the most prominent intellectuals of the country in a bid to cripple the newly-emerging nation of Bangladesh. To observe the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day in a befitting manner, 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 are expected to pay tributes by placing wreaths there.

National flag will be at half-mast atop government buildings and educational institutions to mark the day. Security has also been tightened in and around the killing grounds at Rayerbazar and Mirpur in the capital. The Pakistani troops and their Bengali-speaking collaborators belonging to Razakar or other auxiliary forces killed a number of intelligentsia throughout the nine-month 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 Monier Chowdhury.

Most of the December 14 victims were picked up from their houses blindfolded and killed during December 10-14 in 1971. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to place wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the morning. Afterwards, family members of the martyred and freedom fighters will place wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial and the Rayerbazar Killing Ground at Mohammadpur in the capital.

People of all walks will later place wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial. Bangladesh Television and private TV channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day. Ruling party Awami League and other political parties including the BNP have chalked out various programmes marking the day, while discussion will be held at district and upazila level across the country.

The Dhaka University authorities will observe the day by taking different programmes.

 

 

Martyred Intellectuals Day tomorrow

The nation is set to commemorate tomorrow the intellectuals who embraced martyrdom at the hands of the Pakistani occupation army and their local cohorts during the War of Independence, especially at the fag end of the war in 1971. Just two days ahead of the countrys victory on this day 48 years ago, the marauding Pakistan army in collusion with their local collaborators Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakars killed the most prominent intellectuals of the country in a bid to cripple the newly-emerging nation of Bangladesh. To observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day in a befitting manner, 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 are expected to pay tributes by placing wreaths there. National flag will be at half-mast atop government buildings and educational institutions to mark the day. Security has also been tightened in and around the killing grounds at Rayerbazar and Mirpur in the capital. The Pakistani troops and their Bengali-speaking collaborators belonging to Razakar or other auxiliary forces killed a number of intelligentsia throughout the nine-month 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 Monier Chowdhury. Most of the December 14 victims were picked up from their houses blindfolded and killed during December 10-14 in 1971. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to place wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the morning. Afterwards, family members of the martyred and freedom fighters will place wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial and the Rayerbazar Killing Ground at Mohammadpur in the capital. People of all walks will later place wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial. Bangladesh Television and private TV channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day. Ruling party Awami League and other political parties including the BNP have chalked out various programmes marking the day, while discussion will be held at district and upazila level across the country. The Dhaka University authorities will observe the day by taking different programmes.