Bangladesh observed the 37th Martyred Intellectuals Day paying homage to its brightest sons who had fallen victim to one of the history’s most brutal pogrom against intellectuals on the eve of the country’s liberation in December 1971.
On the occasion the political parties, socio-cultural groups, rights activists and people from all strata renewed their call for holding trial of the war criminals.
Sensing their defeat, the Pakistani army and their local collaborators unleashed their death squads known as Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams, who picked up intellectuals, including writers, academicians, journalists, physicians and engineers, from their houses and killed them at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other places a couple of days before the country became independent on December 16, 1971. People across the country observed the day through various programs, including seminars, discussions, human chains and silent processions.
