The nation will observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day today paying rich tributes to a galaxy of intellectuals systematically killed at the fag-end of the War of Liberation in 1971 to cripple the Bengalis aspiring after nationhood. Renowned academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded, and taken to unknown places to be brutally tortured and slaughtered. Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.
The cold-blooded mass murders were carried out under a carefully thought-out plan to cripple the emerging Bangladesh intellectually, as the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators sensed an imminent defeat.
Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Muneir Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.
To commemorate the December 14 tragedy that took place only two days before the fall of the Pakistani army in Bangladesh at the end of a nine-month war, different socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes that include seminars, discussions and wreath-laying at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard and Intellectuals Memorial at Rayerbazar.
Black flags will be hoisted atop central Awami League office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and other units of the ruling party across the country at sunrise while national and party flags to be lowered at half-mast.
The ruling party’s activists will place wreaths at the intellectuals’ memorial, Rayerbazar killing field and portrait of Banganbandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban.
Awami League will hold a discussion at the Krishibid Institution auditorium at Farmgate at 3pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the meeting as the chief guest.
-With The Independent input
