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Nation remembers martyred intellectuals

Deluge of people at Mirpur, Rayerbazar Martyred Intellectuals’ Memorials 

Published : Sunday, 15 December, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 326
Staff Correspondent
The nation on Saturday observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day to commemorate the intellectuals killed systematically by Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators - Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams - at the fag-end of the Liberation War in 1971.

President Mohammed Sahabuddin, Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice, Advisers, leaders of different political parties, foreign diplomats, leaders of different social organisations and people from all walks of life placed floral wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.

Besides, family members of the martyred intellectuals and freedom fighters also paid homage to the martyred intellectuals marking the day.

The political leaders from various factions gathered at the Martyred Intellectual Memorial in Mirpur and Rayerbazar in Mohammadpur on the occasion of Martyred Intellectual Day and paid homage to the martyred intellectuals of 1971. 

They expressed their commitment to establishing a democratic and non-discriminatory Bangladesh while reflecting on the recent uprising of 2024.

On December 14 in 1971, the country's renowned academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and murdered.

Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.

Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and their local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar committed the cold-blooded mass murders aiming to annihilate the country's intelligentsia and cripple emerging Bangladesh intellectually.

The martyred intellectuals are Prof Munier 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.

Marking the day, special doa and munajat were offered at mosques, temples and churches. Bangladesh Television and private television channels broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

After paying homage at the memorial, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said, "New opportunities have been created by defeating fascist forces on July 36 or August 5. We want to establish Bangladesh as a democratic state, a modern state, and a non-discriminatory state in the true sense by utilising this opportunity."

"On this day in 1971, on the eve of country's victory, the Pakistani occupation forces picked up prominent journalists, intellectuals, professors, scientists and distinguished personalities of civil society and killed them. In 1971, we lost great personalities of the nation. On behalf of Jatiyatabadi Dal, party chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, we all paid homage and prayed for the forgiveness of the martyred intellectuals," he added.

Akhtar Hossain, Secretary General of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee, highlighted the lessons of 1971 and the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. 

He said, "We hope on this day that no more regimes like the toppled fascist return to this country, regimes that suppress freedom of speech and activity as happened under the Pakistan regime, who killed our  intellectuals".

Akhtar further said, "In 1971, people sought equality, basic human rights and justice. Under the Hasina regime, the aspirations of the Liberation War were suppressed. In the uprising of 2024, people once again fought for the vision of 1971.

 We urge the people to maintain unity until we achieve a truly nondiscriminatory Bangladesh."

Gana Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Md Rashed Khan has alleged that the Awami League paid tribute at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur on Saturday while posing as members of the Jatiya Party (JP).

Speaking to reporters after paying his respects on Martyred Intellectuals Day, Rashed said, "We saw members of the Jatiya Party pay tribute at the memorial. However, they are not Jatiya Party members - they are Awami Leaguers. Awami League came disguised as Jatiya Party and paid tribute under that banner. This is part of their effort to rehabilitate Awami League, with GM Quader leading the effort. Today, they have launched a 'return mission' in the name of paying homage."

Besides, on behalf of Jatiya Party, its Presidium Member Shamim Ahmed Patwary placed wreaths at the monument marking the day.

Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, stressed the need for systemic reforms to ensure a balanced and accountable governance structure. 

"The Constitution was made in a way where all the power structure was centralised in one hand. Reforming state institutions, decentralising power and ensuring accountability are pivotal aspirations of this new Bangladesh after the 2024 uprising," Saki said. 

He added: "We need to build a democratic constitution that reflects these ideals."

Besides, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, University Grant Commission, Communist Party Bangladesh, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, National Democratic Party and many BNP allies came to pay homage to the Martyred Intellectual Memorial in Mirpur.



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