Martyred Intellectuals Day observed

Bangladesh observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day on Monday, paying tributes to the intellectuals killed systematically by the Pakistan occupation army and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the country's Liberation War in 1971, reports news agency UNB.
Renowned academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded, and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and slaughtered on the day in 1971.
Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.
Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators carried out the cold-blooded mass murders under a carefully thought-out plan to cripple the emerging Bangladesh intellectually.
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.
The government held elaborate programmes commemorating the 14 December tragedy.
Besides, different socio-cultural and political organisations observed the day with elaborate programmes that included seminars, discussions and wreath-placing at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard and Intellectuals Memorial at Rayerbazar.
President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid profound tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day.
The president and the PM stood there in solemn silence for some time.
A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute as the bugle played the last post.
After placing the wreaths, the President talked to war-wounded freedom fighters and family members of the martyred intellectuals there and enquired about their wellbeing.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, laid another wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as the party chief.
She also talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and enquired about their wellbeing.
Besides, PM Sheikh Hasina also paid rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi on Monday.
Awami League held a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city. Awami League president Sheikh Hasina addressed the programme as chief guest.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia paid tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur.
Khaleda Zia placed wreaths at 10:20am to pay her homage to the great heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the country and the nation.
BNP also held a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal arranged a doa mahfil on the ground floor of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office at 10:30am on the occasion.