Amid a growing demand for punishment for war criminals the nation observed Martyred Intellectuals Day yesterday paying rich tribute to the illustrious citizens who had been brutally killed on the eve of victory in the Liberation War of 1971.

Thousands of people gathered at the Memorial for Martyred Intellectuals at Mirpur in the capital to pay their tributes to the intellectuals and professionals killed during the war of independence. Many wore black ribbons, while many people and a number of organisations also carried banners with slogans inscribed on them demanding immediate trial of the war criminals.

With defeat looming large, the Pakistani occupation forces aided by their local collaborators – Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams – abducted frontline intellectuals and professionals of the freedom fighting nation on December 14, 1971 and killed them, often after brutal torture, in an effort to cripple the emerging nation intellectually.

The killers dragged renowned academics, teachers, writers, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities out of their homes blind-folded, taking them to the killing fields of Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other places in the capital, where they were brutally killed before being left there dumped to rot.

Many families of the martyred intellectuals still live in distress, like thousands of the freedom fighters’ families who are struggling for a meagre living in the country.

Many individuals and almost all political parties including Awami League (AL), the Communist Party of Bangladesh, the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) demanded trials of and punishment for war criminals.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, and Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Fakhruddin Ahmed, laid wreaths at the Memorial for Martyred Intellectuals in Mirpur yesterday morning. As a mark of respect to the martyred they stood in solemn silence for sometime there while bugles played the last post.

The speaker of the parliament, the deputy speaker, advisers to the caretaker government, secretaries to the ministries, freedom fighters, and high civil and military officials accompanied the president and the chief adviser.

Thousands of people including leaders of different political parties and members of social and cultural groups, as well as the family members of the martyred intellectuals also visited the memorials in Mirpur and Rayerbazar, and placed wreaths there with due respect.

They also hoisted black flags and kept the national flag at half-mast to commemorate the martyred.

Major political parties including BNP, AL, Jatiya Party, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, the Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BD, JSD, and organisations like Bangla Academy, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and other socio-cultural entities organised various programmes marking the day.

AL demanded immediate setting up of a special tribunal for trial of the war criminals. The demand came from a discussion at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital yesterday.

“If the present government does not try the war criminals, then we will try the war criminals after reinstating the Collaborators Act if voted to power,” said Acting AL President Zillur Rahman. The present government has been apathetic towards the demand for trials of the war criminals, he said asking if there is ‘any barrier in trying the war criminals’.

Sector Commanders Forum organised a human chain at Rayerbazar demanding immediate trial of the war criminals, where a rather large number of people joined.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz and Pro-VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider along with other teachers and students of the university placed wreaths at the memorial in Mirpur.

Muhammad Selim, deputy leader of CPM’s parliamentary party in Indian Congress also a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who has been in Bangladesh for the last few days, also placed wreaths at both memorials in Mirpur and Rayerbazar paying tributes to the martyred intellectuals.

Talking to reporters after placing a floral wreath at the Memorial for Martyred Intellectuals in Mirpur, AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzak said successive governments run or backed by the military facilitated the rehabilitation of war criminals in Bangladesh. He also demanded immediate trial of the war criminals.

BDB president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said the state must take the initiative for trying the war criminals. No government until now took any initiative to try the war criminals, he said adding, previous governments rather made the war criminals ministers and gave them a chance to adorn their cars with the national flag.

Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, the Dhaka Union of Journalists, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad, Shaheed Shahidullah Kaiser Srity Sangshad, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Left Democratic Front, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Mukti Andollon, Bangladesh Jubo Moitri, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Sainik League, Samajtantrik Mohila Forum, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Bangladesh Mohila AL, Sromojibi Mukti Andolon, and NAP-Communist Party-Chhatra Union Guerrilla Bahini O Muktijoddha Punarmiloni Prostuti Committee also placed wreaths at both memorials.

Newspapers brought out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day while Bangladesh Radio, Bangladesh Television and different private television channels broadcasted special programmes.

The Daily Star
Bangladesh, Saturday, December 15, 2007