President M Abdul Hamid and Prrime Minister Sheikh Hasina have paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals marking the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day, BSS reports.
They separately placed wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in Dhaka city on Tuesday morning.
On behalf of the president, his military secretary Major General S M Salah Uddin Islam placed a wreath at the monument.
Later, on behalf of the premier, her Military Secretary Major General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury laid a wreath around 7.05 am.
On this day 50 years ago, just two days ahead of the country’s final victory for independence the Pakistani occupation forces in collusion with their local collaborators -- Al-Badr, Razakar and Al-Shams -- killed the country’s most distinguished intellectuals in a bid to cripple the newly emerging Bangladesh intellectually.
As many as 200 illustrious sons of the soil, including professors, journalists, doctors, artists, engineers and writers, were abducted from their respective residences blindfolded and held hostage during December 10 to 14 in 1971.
They were taken blindfolded to torture cells at Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other spots in different city parts.
Subsequently, they were put to death en masse at different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur.
Those who were exposed to the killers’ wrath on December 14, 1971 included Dr Alim Chowdhury and Dr Fazle Rabbi, journalists Shahidullah Kaisar, Sirajuddin Hossain, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan and Selina Parveen, and litterateur Munier Choudhury.
Since then, the day has been being observed as the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Like last year, the day is being observed on a limited scale due to COVID-19 pandemic situation.