Tributes pour in for martyred intellectuals

The nation observed Martyred Intellectuals' Day yesterday commemorating the intellectuals who were killed by the Pakistan occupation army and their local collaborators towards the end of the Liberation War .

On this day in 1971, renowned academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded and taken to unknown places and then tortured and murdered. Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and several other killing fields in Dhaka. Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar forces committed the murders aiming to annihilate the country's intelligentsia.

President Abdul Hamid paid tributes to the martyrs by placing a wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial in Mirpur.

Prime Minister's Military Secretary Maj Gen Mia Md Jainul Abedin placed a wreath there on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was abroad. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia did the same at the memorial.

Besides, different socio-cultural and political organisations observed the day with various programmes, including seminars, discussions and placing of wreaths.