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The nation on Thursday observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day paying glowing tributes to the intellectuals who were brutally killed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the country's Liberation War in 1971.
Sensing a humiliating defeat, the retreating Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators -- Rajakars, Al- Badrs and Al-Shams -- dragged off the frontline Bangalee intellectuals and worthy professionals from their houses on December 14 and assassinated them with the intention of crippling the newborn nation intellectually.
Marking the day, hundreds of people from all walks of life converged at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur and the Rayer Bazar killing ground to pay their homage to the worthy sons of the soil.
The programmes of the day included raising black flag and hoisting of the national flag at half mast, placing of wreaths at the martyred intellectuals memorials and graveyards, discussions, lighting of candles in memory of the martyrs, mourning marches, arranging art, general knowledge and hand writing competitions highlighting the importance of December 14 and milad and doa mahfils seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation and paid deep homage to the martyred intellectuals of 1971 at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur on Thursday, reports BSS.
The head of the state placed the wreath at the memorial at about 7:05am to pay homage to the great heroes, who embraced martyrdom for the cause of the country and the nation, just two days before the final victory during the 1971 Liberation War.
Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals there.
After placing the wreaths, the president and the prime minister stood in silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyred intellectuals.
A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Aired Force presented the guard of honour on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post.
Later, flanked by party's central leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, placed another wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as the chief of her party alongside the senior Awami League leaders.
Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and family members of martyred and war-victims also placed wreaths there.
From Mirpur, the premier went to Dhanmondi Road No 32 and laid a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum there to pay homage to the Architect of the Independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time to show profound respect to the great leader of Bangladesh.
The premier also placed another wreath there as the AL chief with the party leaders.
Apart from AL, various social, political and cultural organisations including BNP, Jatiya Party, Communist Party, Jasad, Awami Jubo League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Matsyajibi League, Swechasebak League, Dhaka University, Dhaka University Teachers Association, Bangabandhu Sainik League, Jatiya Sramik League, Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Kendrio Khela-ghor Asor, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Dhaka South City Corporation, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Muktijoddha Saghati Parishad, Dhaka North and South City units of Awami League, various ward units of Awami League and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote placed wreaths.
Marking the day, Awami League organised a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital at 3 pm with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The Pakistani troops and their Bengali-speaking collaborators belonging to Razakar or other auxiliary forces killed a number of intelligentsia throughout the nine-month long Liberation War.
But, they visibly engaged the infamous Gestapo like Al-Badr forces on December 14, 1971 to carry out a systematic campaign to kill the most eminent academics and professionals like doctors, engineers and journalists to make the newborn nation to a state of brainlessness.
The then Bangladesh government and victorious freedom fighters, however, came to know about their last brutal massacre only when the Pakistani troops surrendered on December 16, 1971 and their top accomplices mostly belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing went into hiding to resurface years later.
Most of the December 14 victims were picked up from their residences blindfolded and killed between December 10 and 14 in 1971.
