Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Amid increasing demand for immediate trial of war criminals, the nation observed Martyred Intellectuals' Day yesterday to commemorate the illustrious citizens killed brutally two days before the victory in Liberation War, 1971.
Thousands of people gathered at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at Mirpur in the capital to pay their tributes. Many wore black ribbons, while many people and a number of organisations carried banners inscribed with slogans demanding a quick start of the trial.
To mark the day, President Zillur Rahman placed wreaths at the memorial around 7:00am. A few minutes later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the martyrs.
The premier also paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placing a wreath at his portrait in Dhanmondi.
Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia accompanied by BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and standing committee members, paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals around 10:00am.
After placing wreaths Delwar told reporters that BNP too wants the trial of war criminals but the trial should not be politically driven.
"Those who have committed such crimes should be tried on the basis of proof and witness but the trial should not be politically motivated," he said.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also placed wreaths at the memorial.
People belonging to different political, socio-cultural organisations and students from various schools, colleges and universities thronged the memorial in the morning.
As the defeat loomed large, the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators -- Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- abducted frontline intellectuals and professionals of the nation aspiring for freedom on December 14, 1971 and killed them, often after brutal torture, in an effort to cripple the emerging nation intellectually.
The killers dragged renowned academics, teachers, writers, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities out of their homes blindfolded, taking them to the killing fields at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other places in the capital. After the butchery, the bodies were left there to rot.
Awami League hoisted black flags and kept the national flag and party flag at half-mast at the party's headquarters and other offices across the country.
The ruling party leaders and activists laid wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at Mirpur, Rayerbazar Killing Ground and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's portrait at Dhanmondi in the morning.
The Awami League also held a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre around 3:00pm on the occasion.
The Sector Commanders' Forum paid tributes at the Rayerbazar Killing Ground by forming a human chain in the city and demanded speedy trial of war criminals.
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