Evil Fundamentalists In Bangladesh Engineered Wholesale Murder Of Bangladeshi Intellectuals .....
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Bangladeshi Intellectuals .....
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/14/d4121401022.htm
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Martyred Intellectuals Day - Nation recalls their supreme
sacrifice
today
The nation observes the Martyred Intellectuals Day today paying
glowing tributes to the illustrious sons of the soil who made the
supreme sacrifice at the fag end of the 1971 Liberation War, with the
killers still left unpunished.
Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani occupation army and their
local collaborators -- Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- abducted
frontline Bengali intellectuals and professionals on December 14 and
killed them to cripple the nation intellectually.
The killers drag renowned academics, litterateurs, doctors, engineers,
journalists and other eminent personalities out of their houses in
Dhaka and massacred them at Rayerbazar and other killing fields in the
city.
The martyred intellectuals include Prof Muneir Chowdhury, Dr Alim
Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain,
Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh
Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu
Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa,
Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.
The day returns with families of the martyred intellectuals still
waiting to see punishment to the perpetrators of the wholesale killing
of the best Bengali minds.
Families of many martyred intellectuals had lodged cases since 1972
seeking justice. Until March 1973, a total of 42 cases were filed
against the Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams but over the years files of
the cases gathered dust only.
On September 24, 1997, Farida Banu, sister of slain intellectual
Giasuddin, filed a case and subsequently some police investigations
were carried out. But as the old files and police records became
untraceable, things did not advance much.
Political, cultural and civil society organisations will commemorate
the tragedy that took place only two days before the fall of the
Pakistani army on December 16 after the bloody war that left some
three million Bengalis killed.
To mark the day, different sociocultural and political organisations
have chalked out elaborate programmes, including seminars, discussions
and wreath-laying at Mirpur and Rayerbazar monuments in Dhaka.
President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the
Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina delivered separate messages on
the eve of the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Terming the killing of the intellectuals a black chapter in history,
President Iajuddin said the barbaric killing was conducted just before
the victory under a preconceived plan to make the nation brainless.
"The sacrifice of the intellectuals would be meaningful if we all
remain active in flourishing education, science and wisdom for
building a self- reliant and self-respecting nation," the president
said.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also said the killing forces massacred the
intellectuals on the eve of the nation's independence in a planned
way.
She expressed deep sympathy for the bereaved family members of the
martyred intellectuals and said, "The martyred intellectuals are the
sources of our inspiration in taking Bangladesh to the desired
destination through development and enrichment."
"Following their ideals, we should be uncompromising in securing
welfare of the nation, independence and sovereignty and democracy,"
she said.
Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina said, "The defeated forces of
independence war had wanted to take revenge for their defeat by
killing the great sons of the soil."
She observed that the defeated forces were still "active against
Bangladesh and the Bengali nation."
Sheikh Hasina called upon the countrymen to build a united movement
for holding the flag of independence high so that "the future
generations can live in an open, democratic and non-communal
society."
Black flag will be hoisted atop important government offices as a mark
of condolences on the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Bangladesh Betar and TV channels will broadcast special programmes and
newspapers will bring out special supplements.
Awami League will hold a discussion on the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum
premises tomorrow afternoon while the opposition leader will meet
members of some martyred families at her Dhanmondi office this
afternoon.
A cultural programme would be held at Liberation War Museum this
evening.
Dhaka University will hold a discussion marking the day at Teachers-
Students Centre (TSC) at 10:30am.
Protesting the construction of public toilets in close vicinity of
Rayerbazar monument, the sons and daughters of the martyred
intellectuals will stage a token hunger strike for an hour from
10:00am today.
Bangla Academy will hold a discussion at 11:00am on the life and work
of the martyred intellectuals. Shilpakala Academy will also organise a
discussion at 10:30am.