President, CA pay homage to Martyred Intellectuals

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals on Saturday by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the capital, marking Martyred Intellectuals Day.

The head of state placed a wreath at the memorial first, at 6:58 am, to honor those who lost their lives just two days before Bangladesh’s final victory in the War of Liberation in 1971. The Chief Adviser followed, placing his wreath at 7:15 am.

They stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of Bangladesh’s illustrious sons. A contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute.

Later, the President and Chief Adviser spoke with war-wounded freedom fighters and family members of the martyred intellectuals.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed also paid homage by placing a wreath at the memorial. Led by Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e Azam, members of the martyred families and valiant freedom fighters, including wounded freedom fighters, placed wreaths at 7:28 am.

On this day, 53 years ago, just two days before the country’s cherished victory for independence, the Pakistani occupation forces, in collusion with their local collaborators—Al-Badr, Razakar, and Al-Shams—killed some of the country’s most distinguished intellectuals in a bid to cripple the newly emerging Bangladesh intellectually.

As many as 200 illustrious sons of the soil—including professors, journalists, physicians, artistes, engineers, and writers—were abducted from their homes, blindfolded, and held hostage between December 10 and 14, 1971.

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

Subsequently, they were shot to death en masse at different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur.

Since then, the day has been observed as Martyred Intellectuals Day.