Dhaka: The nation will observe the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day on Wednesday by paying rich tributes to the intellectuals killed systematically by the Pakistan occupation army and their local collaborators at the end of the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

Renowned academics, doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded, and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and slaughtered.

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

Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators carried out the cold-blooded mass murders under a carefully thought-out plan to cripple the emerging Bangladesh intellectually.

Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Muneir 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 taken elaborate programmes to observe the day to commemorate the 14 December tragedy with due respect.

Besides, different socio-cultural and political organisations have also chalked out various programmes that include seminars, discussions and wreath-laying at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard and Intellectuals Memorial at Rayerbazar.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Mausoleum at Mirpur at about 7:05am.

People from different walks of life will also place wreaths at the Mausoleum paying rich tributes to the martyrs.

To mark the day, Awami League will hoist black flags and keep the national and party flags at half-mast at Bangabandhu Bhaban, its central and all other party offices across the country early in the morning.

The party leaders and activists will lay wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Mausoleum at 7:15 am and at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban at about 7:45am.

It will also arrange a discussion at Krishibid Institution auditorium in the afternoon. Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address the programme.

BNP will pay homage to martyred intellectuals, led by party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in the morning. It will also keep the national flag at half-mast and hoist black flags atop its all offices, including the Nayapaltan central one on the occasion.

Besides, the party arranged discussions at the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday, marking the day.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Workers’ Party and other parties and their associate bodies will also pay homage to the martyred intellectuals.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia have issued separate messages recalling the invaluable contributions of the martyred intellectuals and paying their deep respects to their memories.

In his message, the President said, ‘It’s the misfortune of the nation that the Pakistan occupation forces had brutally killed the country’s renowned intellectuals on the eve of victory which is irreparable loss for the nation.’

He expressed the hope of building a knowledge-based, prosperous and happy ‘Sonar Bangla’ to be imbued with patriotism and the sacrifice of the martyred intellectuals.

The Prime Minister, in her message, said, ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day is a black chapter in our national life.’

She said Jamaat and some fanatic political parties assisted the Pakistani army through forming Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar force and perpetrated crimes like murder, rape, arson and looting during the Liberation war.

The Prime Minister urged all to make united efforts to build a democratic, non-communal, happy and prosperous Bangladesh which will be free from militancy.

In her message, the BNP chairperson called upon all to get united for building a prosperous, self dependent and stronger Bangladesh.