Dhaka: President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectual graveyard in Mirpur area of Dhaka early on Wednesday.

The president and prime minister placed the wreaths at about 7:05 am to show homage to the great heroes.

After placing the wreaths, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the illustrious sons of the soil.

A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute, while the bugle played the last post at that time.

Members of the cabinet, the mayors of Dhaka North and South City Corporations, the chiefs of the three services as well as high civil and military officials were present.

Flanked by central leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, laid another wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as the party chief.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia, Chief Whip ASM Firoz, Awami League Presidium Member Advocate Sahara Khatun and Advisery Council Member Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun and other leaders and parliament members of the party were present.

The president and prime minister also talked to the war- wounded freedom fighters and family members of the martyred intellectuals who gathered there on the occasion and enquired about their wellbeing.

Earlier, on his arrival at the mausoleum site, Abdul Hamid was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

On the night of 14 December in 1971, over 200 Bangalee intellectuals including professors, journalists, doctors, artistes, engineers, and writers were picked up in Dhaka by the Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their local collaborators.

The intellectuals were taken blindfolded to torture cells in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other locations in different parts of Dhaka and later executed en masse at different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur.