The nation is set to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day today, paying rich tributes to the intellectuals who were victims of targeted killings by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators during the War of Independence in 1971.
The Pakistani forces and their collaborators at the end of the War of聽 Independence, sensing their imminent defeat, systematically killed prominent Bangladeshi intellectuals and professionals on December 14, 1971.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals of 1971 on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day, reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
In separate messages on the eve of the day, the president and the chief adviser urged the people to be united with discrimination-free spirit and play role from their respective positions to build a new Bangladesh by defeating all the conspiracies of the anti-liberation forces.
鈥極n this day in 1971, on the eve of the final victory in the great Liberation War, the invading forces, in collaboration with anti-liberations forces, brutally murdered the nation鈥檚 best sons of the soil, renowned educationists, doctors, scientists, writers, journalists, artists and many other distinguished persons,鈥� the president said in his message.
The national flag will be hoisted at half-mast along with black flags today across the country.
To mark the day, different socio-cultural and political organisations have taken elaborate programmes, including seminars and discussions in addition to placing wreaths at the memorials at Mirpur and Rayerbazar.
Several television channels, including state-run Bangladesh Television, will air it live.
From 8:30am on the day, people from all walks of life will offer wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Different television and radio channels will hold special discussions on the occasion of the day.
Discussions will be held at all the districts and upazilas, while mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship will offer special prayers, marking the day.
Different political parties have also undertaken programmes to observe the day.
BNP acting chairmanTariqueRahman and secretary general MirzaFakhrul Islam Alamgir have given separate messages to mark the day.
TarequeRahman in his message said that after fall of fascist Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 the countrymen were eagerly waiting for democratic transition in the country.
BNP secretary general MirzaFakhrul Islam Alamgirsaid that the Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborators had killed the prominent intellectuals of the country during liberation war in 1971, deliberately.
He called on the people of the country to take patience until democratic transition after victory of students and people on August 5.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also announced programmes to mark the day, including paying tributes and discussions.
The party and its affiliated organisations and activists will place floral wreaths at the Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur at 9:00am.
Black flag will be hoisted and party flag will remain half-mastat party鈥檚 central office and all the party offices across the country.
Ganatantra Mancha, 12-party alliance, will place wreath at Mirpur and Rayerbazar Intellectuals Memorial in the morning.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami amir Shafiqur Rahman called upon the party people to observe the day in befitting manner.
Socialist Party of Bangladesh will form a human chain stretching from Rayerbazar graveyard to the National Press Club in the morning.
JatiyaNagarik Committee, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gonoforum,Left Democratic Alliance and others political parties and organisations and people from all walks of life will place wreaths.
Dhaka University will organise a discussion meeting, marking Martyred Intellectuals Day at the university鈥檚 Teacher-Student Centre auditorium at about 11:00am with vice-chancellor professor Niaz Ahmed Khan聽 in chair.
