Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Thursday observed the Martyred Intellectuals' Day by paying glowing tributes to the golden sons and daughters of the soil who were brutally killed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators on the eve of the ultimate victory during the country's Liberation War in 1971.
The program of the Embassy commenced by placing a floral wreath by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Corner. Officials and employees of the Mission were present on the occasion.
Later, messages issued on the occasion by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Minister (Consular) Mohammad Habibur Rahman and Minister (Political) Md. Rashedujjaman at the Bangabandhu Corner.
Afterwards, a discussion session highlighting the significance of the day was held.
Addressing the discussion, Ambassador Muhammad Imran paid rich tributes to martyred intellectuals.
He also paid deep homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all martyrs of the great Liberation War.
The Ambassador said the barbaric killing of the golden sons of the soil by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators is one of the gravest human rights violations in human history.
The heinous killing of the eminent intellectuals of the country was also an irreparable loss to the nation, Ambassador Imran said and called upon all to work in unison to build a hunger-and-poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla' being imbued with the spirit of the great Liberation War and the sacrifices of the martyred intellectuals.
Taking part in the discussion, Minister (Press) AZM Sajjad Hossain described 14th December as one of the most disgraceful days in the history of the Bengali nation and said the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators killed eminent intellectuals at the fag-end of the Liberation War in a bid to make the nation meritless.
Some war criminals fled Bangladesh and took shelter in different countries to evade justice, he said and urged the countries concerned to extradite the killers to Bangladesh immediately.
The program of the day ended with offering a special prayer seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of martyred intellectuals, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all martyrs of the Liberation War. Counsellor and Head of Chancery Shamima Yasmin Smrite conducted the program.
