President, PM pay homage to martyred intellectuals
PM also pays homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the capital, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Later, prime minister also laid a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi to pay homage to the architect of independence.
After placing the wreaths at the Mirpur memorial, the president and the prime minister stood in silence for some time in a show of profound respect to the intellectuals, who were killed on 14 December 1971 by Pakistani occupation forces and their local cohorts.
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The massacre took place just two days before the final victory during the 1971 Liberation War and has been observed ever since as the Martyred Intellectuals Day to pay due respect to the brave souls.
Flanked by party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, placed another wreath at the intellectuals' memorial as the chief of her party.
A contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and the Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post.
Later, the president talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and family members of the martyred intellectuals and enquired about their wellbeing.
On the day 50 years ago, the Pakistani occupation forces in collusion with their local collaborators – Al-Badr, Razakar and Al-Shams – killed the country's most distinguished intellectuals in a bid to deny the newly emerging Bangladesh an intelligentsia class.
At least 200 renowned intellectuals of the country at the time including journalist Shahidullah Kaiser, eye specialist Dr Alim Chowdhury and litterateur Munier Choudhury were killed en masse at different killing grounds after prolonged torture.
Professors, journalists, doctors, engineers and artistes were abducted from their respective residences blindfolded and made hostage during 10 to 14 December in 1971.
They were tortured at different enemy strongholds in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other places in Dhaka before being put to death en masse at killing grounds, most notably in Rayerbazar and Mirpur.
