Nation observes Martyred Intellectuals Day today

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The nation observes the Martyred Intellectuals Day today (Monday) paying rich tribute to a galaxy of intellectuals systematically killed at the fag-end of the liberation war in 1971 to cripple the Bengalis aspirations after nationhood, reports UNB.
Renowned academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded, and taken to unknown places to be brutally tortured and slaughtered. Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.
The cold-blooded mass murders were carried out under a carefully thought-out plan to cripple the emerging Bangladesh intellectually, as the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators had sensed an imminent defeat.
Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Muneir 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.
To commemorate the December 14 tragedy, different socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes, including seminars, discussions and wreath laying at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard and Intellectuals Memorial at Rayerbazar.
Black flags will be hoisted atop central Awami League office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and other units of the ruling party across the country at 7:30am while national and party flags to be lowered at half-mast.
The ruling party's activists will place wreaths at the intellectuals' memorial, Rayerbazar killing field and portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban.
Awami League will hold a discussion meeting at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3:00pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the meeting as chief guest.
Leaders of the opposition BNP, led by party-chairperson Khaleda Zia, will place wreaths at the intellectuals' memorial at about 9:30am.
BNP will also hold a discussion meeting at the Institution of Engineers at 3:00pm.
Meanwhile, President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages recalled the invaluable contribution made by martyred intellectuals while paying rich tributes to their memories.