Nation observes Martyred Intellectuals Day

The nation pays homage to the intellectuals who were killed by Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators during the last days of the 1971 Liberation War.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 Dec 2014, 05:46 AM
Updated : 14 Dec 2014, 08:56 AM

December 14 is observed as Martyred Intellectuals Day in Bangladesh in memory those bright minds that had fallen victims to a brutal military regime.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid their respects at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur on Sunday morning.

The Memorial was covered with floral wreaths placed by several political parties, social and cultural organisations, and ordinary citizens.

Hundreds also gathered at the Memorial to honour the intellectuals who were murdered in the killings fields of Rayerbazaar in the very last days of the War.
Sensing a humiliating defeat, the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators--Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams-- abducted and blindfolded several top-notch Bangalee intellectuals and professionals including academics, doctors, engineers, journalists and teachers from their homes in Dhaka on Dec 14, 1971.
They were later murdered brutally to create an intellectual void in the newborn nation.
The bodies were left in the 'mass graves' of Mirpur and Rayerbazaar.
Bugles played melancholic tunes when the President paid his homage at the mausoleum at 8am on Sunday followed by the Prime Minister paying her respects.
Later, Sheikh Hasina placed wreath for the second time on behalf of the Awami League. Several AL front group leaders followed to pay their respects.
The Memorial was then opened for all.
Different political and socio-cultural organisations and professional bodies will hold several programmes on the day.
Special prayers have been organised for those who were killed.