Bangladesh mission in Brunei observes Martyred Intellectuals Day
Bangladesh high commission in Brunei Darussalam observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day with due solemnity on Tuesday, 14 December, said a press release.
The programme began with the recital of the Quran, followed by one minute's silence observed to show respect to the martyred intellectuals who were viciously killed on the fateful night of 14 December 1971, only two days before Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan.
The Bangladesh high commissioner Nahida Rahman Shumona read out the messages sent on this occasion by the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh.
A documentary was screened to make participants realize the significance of this day.
The Bangladesh high commissioner condemned in the strongest possible terms this ruthless killing of the intellectuals and called it a paradigm of barbarism and inhumanity in the history of independence.
She said that it dealt a terrible blow to a nation whose transition from the clutches of war to the new era of independence and development could have been different with immense benefit from the keen and bright intellect of the martyrs.
Yet, the high commissioner expressed today Bangladesh is widely regarded as the role model of development and going through the twin celebrations of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Independence, while acknowledging the setback the nation received from the irreparable loss of the public intellectuals on 14 December 1971, and on 25 March 1971 as well.
She expressed her sincere gratitude and thankfulness towards prime minister Sheikh Hasina who has always put the interest and well-being of the people of Bangladesh above everything else, and is relentlessly working to build the 'Sonar Bangla' as envisioned by the Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all times and the principal architect of the nation.
In the end, candles were lit by assembled guests including diplomats, Bangladesh and Bruneian community members.