In the morning, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to martyred intellectuals placing wreaths at 7am at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Mausoleum at Rayerbazar area in the capital.
After placing the wreaths, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stood in solemn silence for some time while a contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute. The bugle played the last post at that time.
After paying tributes, the president and PM talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and family members of the martyred intellectuals who also attended the occasion.
In a program held in observance of the day at the capital’s Krishibid Institute in the afternoon, the prime minister pledged to try also who patronized and helped the collaborators in killing the intellectuals.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, being accompanied by senior party leaders including BNP Secretaries General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, paid respect around 10am on behalf of her party at Martyred Intellectuals’ Mausoleum at Rayerbazar.
Later, people from all walks of life – including freedom fighters, leaders of different political and cultural organisations, and representatives of educational institutions – paid tributes to the great sons of the soil.
Among others, Awami League, 14-party alliance, deputy speaker, opposition leader, Dhaka city mayors, liberation war affairs minister, and divisional commissioner of Dhaka, family members of the martyr intellectuals, war-wounded freedom fighters, Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad in the front line paid tributes.
In a message President Abdul Hamid said: “Intellectuals had played a very significant role and worked as the conscience of the nation in advancing the Liberation War towards its successful end. But it is unfortunate that the occupation forces had brutally killed those intellectuals including academics, physicians, litterateurs, journalists, artists and such other professionals just on the eve of the victory.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said when the country was closer to achieve the final victory under the leadership of the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, they were killed on December 14 by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local auxiliary forces like Razakars, Al-Badars and Al-Shams.
“We have brought the killers of the martyred intellectuals under trial and verdicts of some war criminals have already been implemented. Verdicts of other war criminals also will surely be implemented,” the premier added.
Members of the cabinet, the mayors of Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations, the chiefs of the three services as well as top civil and military officials were present during the President and PM’s visit at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Mausoleum.
Jatiya Party Chairman Hossain Muhammad Ershad, JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, Workers Party Chief Rashed Khan Menon, Ruhin Hossain Prince on behalf of CPB, Kamal Hossain of Gono Forum, Oli Ahmed of LDP also paid tribute.
Vice-chancellors AAMS Arefin Siddique of Dhaka University, Farzana Islam of Jahangirnagar also paid tribute.
Flowers, banners and slogans and cultural programs overwhelmed the ground of Mirpur Martyrs Memorial also in the morning.
Over 200 intellectuals including Prof Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury of Bengalee Department of Dhaka University, Prof Munir Chowdhury, Prof Anwar Pasha, Prof Shahidullah Kaisar, Prof Gias Uddin, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Abdul Alim Chowdhury, Siraj Uddin Hossain, Selina Parveen and Dr Jyotirmoy Guha Thakurta were picked up from their residences and taken blindfolded to torture cells at Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other areas in Dhaka.
They were later cold bloodedly murdered at different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur, on the fateful day of December 14, 1971.
Friday, June 05, 2026
