The nation is set to observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day today.
The nation recalls on this day the mass killing of a large number of Bengali top brains by the Pakistan army and their collaborators visibly sensing their defeat just two days ahead of the emergence of Dhaka as the free capital of free Bangladesh.
The occupation troops and their Bengali speaking collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakars carried out a systemic killing throughout the nine months of Liberation War but the December 14 appeared to be a systematic massacre to expose the new born country to a state of brainlessness.
National programmes have been chalked out to observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day in a befitting manner. Different political and socio-cultural organizations have also drawn up various programmes in observance of the day.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus gave separate messages paying profound respect to the memories of martyred intellectuals.
As per state programme, the president and the chief adviser will place separate wreaths at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at 7.05am and 7.06am respectively.
Led by the Liberation War Affairs Adviser, members of the martyred families and the valiant freedom fighters including wounded freedom fighters will place wreaths at the Intellectuals' Memorial at 7.22am and Rayer Bazar killing ground at 8:30am.
People from all walks of life will lay wreaths at the Intellectuals' Memorial from 8.30 am.
Different television and radio channels including Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar will air special programmes while national dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
Discussions will be held at all district and upazila levels of the country while special prayers will be offered at all mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship marking the day.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also taken up elaborate programme to observe the day. BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman gave a message on the eve of the day.
To mark the day, national flags will be kept half mast and black flags will be hoisted atop all BNP offices across the country including central office at Nayapaltan in the capital at the dawn.