President pays homage to martyred intellectuals

President M Abdul Hamid today paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur here, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day.

The head of state placed the wreath at the memorial at about 7:05 this morning to pay homage to the great heroes, who embraced martyrdom for the cause of the country and the nation, just two days before the final victory during the 1971 Liberation War.

Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals there on the occasion.

After placing the wreaths, the president and the prime minister stood in silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyred intellectuals.

A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and the Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post.

Later, the president also talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and family members of the martyred intellectuals there and enquired about their wellbeing.

Earlier, on his arrival at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial, President Hamid was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

On this day 50 years ago, just two days before the country's final victory for independence, the Pakistani occupation forces in collusion with their local collaborators -- Al-Badr, Razakar and Al-Shams -- killed 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, writers, doctors, engineers and artistes, were abducted from their respective residences blindfolded and made them 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, Dr Fazle Rabbi, journalists Shahidullah Kaisar, Sirajuddin Hossain, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan and Selina Parveen and Litterateur Munier Choudhury.

Since then, the day is being observed as the Martyred Intellectuals Day.