Tributes paid to martyred intellectuals at London's Altab Ali Park

The UK Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee yesterday organised a candlelight vigil and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Shaheed Minar in the Altab Ali Park in East London in memory of the martyred intellectuals.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem was the chief guest at the event.

The event was conducted by the Nirmul Committee General Secretary of the committee Ruby Haque and chaired its President Syed Enamul Islam.

At the beginning of the event, High Commissioner Tasneem and members of the Nirmul Committee paid homage to the intellectuals with flowers at the Shaheed Minar.

After paying her respects Tasneem said, "This was the darkest day in the history of the Bengali nation. When the Pakistani invaders were certain of their defeat, they killed the best citizens of our country. The nation feels the irreparable loss we have suffered." She urged all not to forget their sacrifices and to work together to build a non-communal Bangladesh.

On the other hand, all the speakers at the vigil demanded that Chowdhury Mueenuddin, one of the masterminds of the killings of intellectuals, be taken back to Bangladesh to face the judiciary.

Former Member of Parliament Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Vice President of UK Nirmul Committee Harmuz Ali, Joint Secretary of UK Awami League Maruf Chowdhury, Organising Secretary of Awami League Abdul Ahad Chowdhury attended the event, among others.