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Nation pays homage to martyred intellectuals

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The nation observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day yesterday paying homage to the glorious heroes of the soil who were brutally killed a couple of days before the final victory of the Liberation War in 1971.
With defeat looming large, the Pakistani occupation army aided by their local collaborators -- Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- abducted frontline Bangalee intellectuals and professionals on December 14, 1971 and killed them to cripple the nation intellectually.
The killers dragged renowned academics, litterateurs, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities blind-folded
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out of their houses in Dhaka and killed them before dumping the bodies in Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other killing fields.
Different socio-cultural organisations and political parties observed the day through various programmes, including seminars, discussions and silent processions. They hoisted black flags and kept the national flag halfmast to commemorate the martyred intellectuals.
Pro-liberation social and political organisations have expressed deep anger and resentment on the day as some of those who played key role in the massacre of intellectuals are now in power, 34 years after the macabre event.
But the gatherings of common people this year were smaller than the previous years, apparently due to the fear that gripped the nation following the series of bomb attacks across the country.
President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Ministers, leaders of BNP, Awami League, 11- party alliance, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Workers Party, different factions of Jatiya Party, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Gono Forum, Jatiya Oikya Mancha, and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal placed wreaths at the Mirpur memorialin the morning.
Besides members of Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Ain-o-Shalish Kendra, Ekattarer
Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee, authorities of Dhaka University (DU), Jahangirnagar university, National University, Open University, different halls of DU, Bangladesh Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Parishad, Gono
Sanghaty, Bangladesh Chhatra Union and other socio-cultural organisations placed floral wreaths at the Mirpur memorial.
Different socio-cultural and political organisations arranged various programmes, including seminars, discussions and wreath laying at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' memorial and intellectuals' mausoleum at Rayerbazar.
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina met the families of martyred intellectuals at her Sudha Sadan residence.
At the Rayerbazar mausoleum, Abdul Jalil placed wreath on behalf of the Awami Legue President and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina.
Ekattarer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee went to the Rayerbazar mausoleum with a big rally and placed wreath there. Chandralok Khelaghor Ashor and Surjalok Khelaghor Ahsor demonstrated a dummy show of slain intellectuals lying down on the Rayerbazar killing field.
A delegation of Lt General Jagjit Singh Aurora Foundation led by its Chairman Prof Abul Barakat placed wreaths at Mirpur memorial and observed one-minute silence in remembrance of the martyred intellectuals.
Demanding trial of war criminals of 1971, different organisations urged the people to step forward to materialise the dreams of the Liberation War.
They blamed the government for allowing 'anti-social activities' on the mausoleum premises and the construction of a public toilet adjacent to the Rayerbazar killing field.