Martyred Intellectuals Day on Sunday

The nation will commemorate Martyred Intellectuals Day on Sunday.

On this day, the nation recalls the mass murder of a large number of Bengali top brains by the Pakistani army and their collaborators, who were visibly sensing defeat just two days before Dhaka emerged as the free capital of free Bangladesh.

The occupation troops and their Bengali-speaking collaborators, such as Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and Razakars, committed systematic killings throughout the nine months of the Liberation War, but the December 14 massacre appeared to be a systematic massacre designed to expose the newly born country to a state of brainlessness.

National programmes have been planned to commemorate Martyred Intellectuals Day in a fitting manner.

Various political and socio-cultural organisations have also planned events to commemorate the day.

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

According to the state programme, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will lay a wreath at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at 7:05 a.m., followed by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at 7:06 a.m.

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

On the same day, family members of martyred intellectuals, as well as wounded and present freedom fighters, will lay wreaths at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at 7:22 am and the Rayer Bazar Killing Ground Memorial at 8:30 am, led by the liberation war affairs adviser.

Various political and social organisations, as well as people from all walks of life, will lay wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Discussions about the significance of the day will take place at the district and upazila levels.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and other private television channels will broadcast special programmes commemorating the day.

National dailies will run special supplements emphasising the significance of the day.

Martyred Intellectuals' Day will be observed with special prayers in all mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship.

The Bangla Academy has organised a series of events to commemorate Martyred Intellectuals' Day on December 14.

The day's activities include placing wreaths on behalf of the Bangla Academy at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur and the Rayerbazar Killing Ground at 8 a.m.

In addition, at 4 p.m., a discussion will take place in the Academy's Poet Shamsur Rahman seminar room.

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

Speakers included Hasanath Kayum, president of Rastro Songskar Andolon; Professor Swadhin Sen from Jahangirnagar University's Department of Archaeology; Dr Navine Murshid from Colgate University in the USA; and writer and artist Arup Rahee.

Tahmidal Zami, a writer and researcher, will deliver a keynote address titled 'The Speech and Life of the Intellectuals', or 'Buddhijibir Joban O Jibon.

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

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

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

According to the nationally published Martyred Intellectuals Day collection in 1972, news published in various publications, and a write-up by internationally renowned journalist Nicholas Tomalin in the international news magazine "Newsweek", the total number of martyred intellectuals is up to 1,070.

These intellectuals inspired the independence organisers during the Bengali nation's long liberation struggle through their intellect, thinking, and writing.

They demonstrated the path to liberation. They inspired the entire country in its struggle for rights.

The anti-liberation clique was completely opposed to the establishment of an independent state.

Although December 14 is remembered as the day of the intellectuals' massacre, the most heinous crime in history began on December 10.

Throughout the week, they added the names of intelligent and courageous people to their list one by one.

Originally, beginning on December 10, the listed intellectuals were blindfolded and taken from their homes to the Rayerbazar and Mirpur killing grounds at night, where they were brutally killed.

To commemorate the martyred intellectuals, the first Martyred Intellectuals Memorial was built in Mirpur, Dhaka.