Martyred Intellectuals Day today

The nation observes the Martyred Intellectuals Day today (Sunday), reports BSS.

The nation recalls on this day the mass killing of a large number of Bengali top brains by the Pakistan army and their collaborators visibly sensing their defeat just two days ahead of the emergence of Dhaka as the free capital of free Bangladesh.

The occupation troops and their Bengali speaking collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakars carried out a systemic killing throughout the nine months of Liberation War but the December 14 appeared to be a systematic massacre to expose the new born country to a state of brainlessness.

National programmes have been chalked out to observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day in a befitting manner.

Different political and socio-cultural organisations have also drawn up various programmes in observance of the day.

On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages paying profound respect to the memories of martyred intellectuals.

As per state programme, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will place a wreath at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at 7:05 am and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will lay a wreath at 7:06am.

Bangladesh Television as well as other private TV channels will broadcast the programme live.

Under the leadership of liberation war affairs adviser, family members of the martyred intellectuals and the wounded and present freedom fighters will place wreaths at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at 7:22 am and at Rayer Bazar Killing Ground Memorial at 8:30 am on the same day.

Besides, various political and social organisations along with people from all walks of life will place wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at 8:30 am.

Discussions highlighting the significance of the day will be held at the district and upazila levels.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and other private TV channels will air special programmes marking the day.

National dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

Special prayers will be offered at all mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship in observance of the Martyred Intellectuals' Day.

The Bangla Academy has undertaken a series of programmes to observe the Martyred Intellectuals' Day.

The day's programmes include placing of wreaths on behalf of the Bangla Academy at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial, Mirpur and the Rayerbazar Killing Ground at 8 am.

Besides, a discussion will be held at 4 pm in the Poet Shamsur Rahman seminar room of the Academy.

The event will be presided over by Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam while the Academy's Secretary Dr. Md. Selim Reza will deliver the welcome address.

Speakers including Hasanath Kayum, president of Rastro Songskar Andolon, Professor Swadhin Sen of the Department of Archaeology, Jahangirnagar University, Dr Navine Murshid, professor at Colgate University, USA and writer and artist Arup Rahee will also speak.

Writer and researcher Tahmidal Zami will present a keynote paper titled 'The Speech and Life of the Intellectuals' or 'Buddhijibir Joban O Jibon'.

To maintain the sanctity of the day, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has requested the general public not to use microphones or loudspeakers in the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial area.

Martyred Intellectuals Day is the most poignant day in the history of the country's independence and struggle for freedom.

At the end of the nine-month bloody liberation war, when the people of the entire country were on the verge of final victory, the members of Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams and the Peace Committee indulged in the massacre of intellectuals on that day.

From the nationally published Martyred Intellectuals Day collection in 1972, news published in various publications and from the write-up of internationally renowned journalist Nicholas Tomalin at the international news magazine "Newsweek", the total number of martyred intellectuals is as high as 1,070.

In the long liberation struggle of the Bengali nation, these intellectuals inspired the organizers of independence through their intellect, thinking and writing.