The Martyred Intellectuals’ Day was observed in Jhalokhati, Gaibandha, Manikganj, Cumilla University and Jhenaidah districts as elsewhere in the country on Thursday with due respect and amid paying much tributes to them.
Marking the day, the District Administration, Zila Parishad, Municipality, Bangladesh Awami League District Unit and socio-cultural organisations chalked out elaborate programmes on the day. Our correspondents and agencies report:
Jhalokathi Correspondent says: Different programmes were arranged to observe the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day in Jhalokathi on Thursday.
District Administration, Police Administration, Muktijoddah Sangsad, District Awami League and different socio-cultural organisations paid tributes to the martyrs.
A discussion was held marking the Day. Farha Gul Nijhum, DC, Jhalokathi was the chief guest in the programme. Md Afrujul Huq Tutul, SP was the special gues. Adv Khan Siafullah Ponir, Chairman, Upazila Parishad and General Secretary of District Awami League was also present in the discussion. Md ruhul Amin, Additional Dc presided over the function.
Gaibandha Correspondent reports: The Martyred Intellectuals’ Day was observed in Gaibandha district as elsewhere in the country on Thursday with due respect and amid paying much tributes to them.
Marking the day, the District Administration, Zila Parishad, Gaibandha Municipality, Bangladesh Awami League District Unit and socio-cultural organisations chalked out elaborate programmes on the day.
In the morning at 10 am, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kazi Nahid Rasul along with senior officials of the district and Upazila Administrations paid rich tributes at the Shahid Memorial in front of Old DC office of the town here by placing wreaths.
The programme was followed by a discussion at the auditorium of Zila Shilpakala Academy of the town here with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abdul Awal in the chair.
Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad Abdur Rouf Talukder, Police Super (SP) Kamal Hossain, Mayor of Gaibandha Municipality Matlubur Rahman, former commander of district Muktijoddha Sangshad freedom fighter Mahmudul Haque Sajada and noted freedom fighter Ali Akbar Miah spoke at the meeting, among others.
The speakers said on this day in 1971, the illustrious sons of the soil were brutally killed at the fag end of the Liberation War as the Pakistani occupation army with the help of their local collaborators-Razakars, Al-Badrs and Al- Shams -- abducted the intellectuals and professionals sensing their imminent defeat.
BSS from Manikganj says: People from all walks of life in Manikganj observed the "Martyred Intellectuals' Day" on Thursdat paying rich tributes to the intellectuals who were brutally killed by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the country's Liberation War in 1971.
Later, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Golam Azad Khan, Manikganj Zila Parishad Chairman Freedom Fighter Advocate Golam Mohiuddin, Manikganj Pourasabha Mayor Md Ramjan Ali, public representatives, political leaders, district level officers, freedom fighters, civil society members, students and teachers placed wreaths at the monument.
As part of the programmes, district administration organised a discussion on the significance of the Martyred Intellectuals Day at the conference room of Deputy Commissioner.
Deputy Commissioner Rahana Akther addressed the discussion as the chief guest while Additional Deputy Commissioner (Gen) Sanwarul Haque described the heinous incident in 1971 in a nutshell in his address of welcome.
The function was addressed, among others, by Additional SP Imtiaz Mahmud,Deputy Director Statistics Minar Uddin and former Deputy Commander of Manikganj District Freedom Fighter Command Council Momin Uddin Khan.
Prizes were distributed among the winners of different competitions held on this occasion.
CoU Correspondent reports: The Martyred Intellectuals’ Day was observed at Comilla University (CoU) with due dignity on Thursday. The day’s programme was started on with the sunrise by flying the National Flag half-mast, hoisting the black flag and wearing black badge.
Later, at quarter past 10, the mourning rally started from in front of the Administrative Building and ended at the central Shaheed Minar. At the end of the rally, wreaths were placed at the central Shaheed Minar by the university family and later wreaths were also placed at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Besides, various departments and organizations of the university also placed wreaths at the same time.
After the wreath offering, a short discussion was organised in front of the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the discussion, the treasurer of the university, Dr. Md. Asaduzzaman said, “We all know the significance of Intellectuals' Day. We are grateful to those whose sacrifices made us free. The difference between the intellectuals of today and the intellectuals of that time is that the intellectuals of that time were more ethical and self-sacrificing. We can celebrate this day by being completely self-sacrificing and ethical."
Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Humayun Kabir paid respects to the intellectuals. The Pakistani invaders killed our sons on this day so that the Bengali nation could never stand up. But our country is now self-sufficient in everything. Bangabandhu sought the welfare of people all his classes. If we also follow the ideals of Bangabandhu only then it will be possible to truly establish Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla and only then will proper respect be shown to the martyrs."
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A F M Abdul Moyeen said that the martyred were ethical. Today's intellectuals think a lot to sacrifice normal things but the intellectuals of that time did not hesitate to give their lives. They took an oath to uphold the ideals of the intellectuals of that time, for the sake of the country, to move the country forward. If we can, we will pay tribute to them. And we will turn it into action rather than words."
Convenor of the program Professor Dr. Md. Aminul Islam Akanda said, "The main theme of killing the intellectuals was so that the country could not move forward. This murder was organized just two days before the victory. A large part of the intellectuals were university teachers. Intellectuals organized under the leadership of university teachers. Together they formed the nation by expressing their national ideas."
At the end of the short discussion meeting, after the Zohr prayer, a doa mahfil was organized at the central mosque to pray for the souls of the martyred intellectuals.
Jhenaidah Correspondent adds: Martyred intellectuals’ Day was observed in Jhenaidah with great festivity to show respect to the heroic sons. Jhenaidah district administration, police office, Ismaic Foundation, ruling Awami League and different political parties participated in the day- long programmes throughout the district.
Awami League (AL) Jhenaidah district office hoisted black flag and national flag half marched. They took out a rally in the town that ended on Prerona Ekattor premises and placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Lawmaker of Jhenaidah-1 seat also AL district unit president Abdul Hyee, among other leaders and activists, were present. Later, party’s general secretary Saidul Karim Mintu took out a separate rally that paraded the main roads in the town.
Jhenaidah District Administration and police office arranged separate programmes marking the day. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh (IFB), Jhenaidah deputy director’s office organized a milad mahfil at Old DC Court Jame Mosque where Moulana Kazi Bashirul Islam and Hafez Imran Hossain offered munajat for the salvation of the Martyred intellectuals. IFB deputy director Abdul Hamid Khan was also present.
