local collaborators at the fag- end of the country’s Liberation War in 1971 Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani occupation army and their local collabora tors, including the killers from the ranks of Jamaat-e-Islami, had systematically butchered eminent teachers, doctors, poets, writers and journalists as partoftheir blueprint to deprive the newly emerging nation of their services.
The victims were abducted from their homes and then brutally tortured. Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpurand some other killing fields in the capital.
Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Muneir Chowdhury Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GCDev JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin SA Mannan(Ladu Bhai), ANMGolam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin Since then, December 14 has been commemorated as Shahid Buddhijibi Dibas’ every year.
People from all walks oflife, led by President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and politicians from all parties, will visit the site and lay wreaths at memorials to pay homage to the martyrs and Prime Minister President Abdul Hamid Sheikh Hasina will pay profound tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placingwreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister is scheduled to reach the Mirpur memorial around 6:55am. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also pay atribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi, marking the day.
Political parties, including Awami League and the BNP and socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes that include seminars, discussions and wreath laying at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard and Intellectuals Memorial at Rayer bazar.