POBNEWS24, Dhaka Dec 14, 2024: Various political, social and cultural parties and organizations across Bangladesh observed Martyred Intellectuals Day yesterday, Saturday. On that day in 1971, the occupying Pakistani forces and their allies Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams killed the best sons of Bengal, intellectuals. Exactly two days after the killing of the intellectuals, on 16 December, the barbaric Pakistani forces led by General Niazi surrendered to General Aurora at the Racecourse Maidan and Bangladesh emerged as an independent country. This brutal massacre of Bengalis to demoralize them at the final moment of victory shocked the entire nation and the entire world that day.
On 14 December 1971, in the darkness of the night, a gang of assassins blindfolded and took about 150 intellectuals and accomplished people of various professions to an unknown location in Dhaka city alone. That night, during the evening curfew, teachers, journalists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, artists, writers, cultural workers and high-ranking government and private officials were dragged out of their homes by a list. Later, they were killed and left in the silent, haunted darkness.
The next morning, many lifeless bodies were seen lying scattered in the drains and drains of Mirpur and Rayerbazar brickyards in Dhaka. Some had bullet wounds, some were injured by inhuman torture. Many had their hands tied behind their backs and their intestines were ripped out with bayonets. People who were looking forward to the dawn of independence were shocked to learn about that dark night of losing their relatives. Everything came to a standstill.
On the occasion of the day, President Md. Shahabuddin and Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus gave separate messages today.
President Md. Shahabuddin said that their sacrifice will be worthwhile only if we can build a non-communal and non-discriminatory new Bangladesh based on the ideals and path of the martyred intellectuals, based on the spirit of the Liberation War. Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus said that Martyred Intellectuals Day is a shameful day in the history of Bangladesh. In the last days of the great Liberation War, the Pakistani occupying forces and their allies, knowing that defeat was certain, brutally killed Bengali intellectuals to demoralize Bangladesh. Various programs have been taken by the government to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day with due dignity. In addition, various political, social and cultural organizations have also taken various programs on the occasion of the day. In the morning, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir went to the Martyred Intellectuals Cemetery in Mirpur in the capital to pay tribute to the intellectuals. He told reporters, July 36 or August 5 has created a new opportunity by defeating the fascist forces. By taking advantage of this opportunity, we want to establish Bangladesh as a truly democratic, modern and non-discriminatory state.
Responding to questions from journalists present after paying tribute to the brave martyrs at the Rayerbazar massacre site in Dhaka on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day, Ruhin Hossain Prince, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and one of the leaders of the Left Democratic Alliance, expressed his anger over the lack of justice for the killing of intellectuals in the last 54 years and called on the interim government to immediately complete the justice for the killing of intellectuals and to rebuild the memorials of the Liberation War that have been destroyed recently. He said, there is no forgiveness for the killers of the martyred intellectuals. We will continue to demand justice until these killings are brought to justice. He also said, today many are trying to make the Liberation War and this movement that has been built over a long period of time controversial in various ways. Again, the rulers of the past have misused the Liberation War to protect undemocratic and autocratic power. To end this situation, it has become an urgent duty to present the true facts of the Liberation War and its long history of struggle and the position of enemies and allies at home and abroad to the countrymen, especially the new generation. The party’s Central Committee Netubund was present at the CPB’s tribute at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Professor Rawnak Jahan of Dhaka University told this reporter about the celebration of Intellectuals’ Day this time, saying that it is an integral part of our national consciousness. It is not just a tribute to intellectuals, but an opportunity to revive the spirit of the Liberation War. However, some important differences have been observed in the participation of the people and the political reality in organizing Intellectuals’ Day in 2023 and 2024. According to him, the active participation of the youth in 2023 was particularly notable. Various programs, seminars, and documentary screenings in schools, colleges, and universities inspired the young generation with the spirit of the Liberation War. On the contrary, the participation of the general public was relatively low in 2024. The main reason behind this was the political instability and repression in the country. There was a shortage in the participation of the masses. Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah of Dhaka University said that today’s Intellectuals’ Day in 2024 creates a kind of void in the minds of the general public due to the absence and silent role of the Bangladesh Awami League as a party. Awami League, known as the bearer of the spirit of the Liberation War, has always played a central role in the main organization of Intellectuals’ Day. However, this year, their silence in the context of political repression has hurt the significance of the day.
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