Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 has always served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during our Liberation War in 1971.
On this day, our brightest minds were systematically executed by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators, aiming to cripple the intellectual foundation of a yet-to-be-liberated Bangladesh.
To this day, it remains among the lowest acts committed by another nation in the face of defeat, looking to launch a final assault on the very spirit of our emerging nation, seeking to extinguish hope and progress just days before victory.
As we reflect on the events of this tragic day, we must also recognize that this day, much like many others, had unfortunately become platforms for peddling political propaganda. To that end, as we emerge as a new nation after the events of the July-August uprising earlier this year, it is time to truly remember and pay respect to our history in a befitting manner.
In commemorating those we have lost in 1971, we must therefore forego any further temptation to allow petty politics to overshadow their legacy. The sacrifices of those intellectuals -- and indeed all the martyrs during the time of the Liberation War -- should unite us in a shared commitment to uphold the ideals that make a democratic nation.
While we certainly agree that much of this nation has needed and warranted a reset, there are some days and events that must always remain on the national consciousness -- and today marks one such day. There should be no arguments regarding the events of December 14, only collective respect.
As we look to become the nation we always had the potential to become, let us honour the memory of our intellectuals lost in 1971 by fostering an environment where ideas and thoughts flourish, and where every citizen is truly free to express themselves without fear of repression.
