The nation paid glowing tributes to the intellectuals martyred during the Liberation War, with various programs held throughout Dhaka on Friday. However, the day was still marred by mounting political tension, as the general election edges closer.
Thousands of people visited the memorials to the martyred intellectuals at Rayerbazar in Mohammadpur and adjacent the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur, and the government organized elaborate programs to commemorate the tragedy of December 14, 1971.
Various socio-cultural organizations also paid homage to the martyred intellectuals with programs at both memorials.
Amidst the tributes, the motorcade of Jaitya Oikya Front leader Dr Kamal Hossain was attacked allegedly by supporters of Awami League, when he was exiting the memorial at Mirpur.
Furthermore, the descendants of martyred intellectuals organized a human chain at the memorial in Rayerbazar, demanding that anti-liberation forces not be given state power.
Earlier in the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the country in paying tributes to the martyred intellectuals at the memorial in Mirpur.
First the President and then the Prime Minister placed wreaths at the memorial. Later, Sheikh Hasina placed another wreath as president of the ruling Awami League. Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Mohammad Sayeed Khokon, and chiefs of armed forces were present, among others.
Led by convenor Dr Kamal Hossain, a delegation from Jatiya Oikya Front that included local BNP candidate Syed Abu Bakar Siddique Saju arrived to pay tribute at the Mirpur memorial around 9am.
When the Oikya Front delegation were exiting the memorial, they were attacked allegedly by supporters of Aslamul Huq, Awami League candidate from the constituency.
During a press briefing at the Oikya Front office in Bijoynagar later in the day, Dr Kamal said the attack dishonoured the memory of the martyred intellectuals.
Meanwhile, descendants of martyred intellectuals organized a human chain outside the Rayerbazar memorial after paying their tributes. At the human chain, they demanded that anti-liberation forces not be allowed to wield state power.
Towhid Reza Noor, the younger son of martyred journalist Serajuddin Hossain, said: “We do not want to see any person who was against the independence of the state or their descendants in power. We only want to see those with the spirit of independence in power.”
Martyred journalist Nizamuddin Ahmed’s son Safquat Bappy urged young voters to ignore the people and parties who are facilitating anti-liberation forces.
On December 14, 1971, the Pakistan army, in collusion with their local collaborators, kidnapped and brutally killed prominent intellectuals of Bangladesh, with the aim of crippling the newly emerging nation.
Renowned academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded, and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and slaughtered. Most of the killings took place from December 10 - 14, 1971.
Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.
The martyred intellectuals include Prof Muneir Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.
