The nation is set to observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day on Friday to commemorate those intellectuals who were killed systematically by the Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

On this day in 1971, country’s renowned academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and slaughtered, reports the UNB.

Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.

Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar forces committed the cold-blooded mass murders aiming to annihilate the country’s intelligentsia and cripple the emerging Bangladesh intellectually.

Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Munier 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 government has chalked out elaborate programmes to commemorate the December 14 tragedy.

President Abdul Hamid will place a wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur at 7:05am while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place another wreath at 7:06 am.

Family members of the martyred and freedom fighters will place wreaths at Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at 7:22 am and all walks of life will pay tributes by placing wreaths at the memorial in Mirpur and Rayerbazar Killing Ground at Mohammadpur from 8:30 am.

Besides, different socio-cultural and political organisations have taken various programmes that include seminars, discussions on the occasion.

Bangladesh Television and private television channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

Meanwhile, the government has urged all not to use mikes and loudspeakers while observing the day to protect its sanctity.