Bangladesh paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals today due to the demand for trial of war criminals responsible for killing intellectuals during the Liberation War in 1971.
As the Pakistani Army was being defeated, they killed thousands of intellectuals, academics, and professionals just two days before victory of Bangladesh. Their bodies were discarded at various places in the city.
Amongst the many martyred intellectuals were prominent personalities such as Prof Muneir Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Proffessor Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.
Although it has been almost four decades since these mass killings have taken place, justice is still to be served as these crimes have gone unpunished.
In remembrance of those murdered, the national flag along with black flags were hoisted today. The President, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and leaders from various political parties placed wreaths at Mirpur martyred intellectuals' graveyard in the morning.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader, Khaleda Zia gave messages on the eve of the Martyred Intellectuals Day. In their speeches, they paid tribute to the deceased and the role and sacrifices they made for the independence of Bangladesh.