The remains of the victims of the Muslim Bazar massacre by the Pakistani army during the Liberation War in 1971 were buried with state honours at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard at Mirpur in the city on Monday. The burial was held under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army and in presence of Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, said an ISPR press release. On July 27, 1999, while digging a well during the renovation of the Nuri Mosque in Mirpur's Section 12, many remains including skulls and bones, human hair braids, veils, and pieces of clothing were unearthed. Also read: Bangladesh calls British parliament to move a motion recognising 1971 genocide For confirmation of whether the recovered bones and skulls were evidence of the genocide of 1971, the War Crimes Facts Finding Committee examined the evidence of martyrs and carried out scientific research, added the release. The research included examining tissue samples of blood relatives of the martyrs. Later, some of the remains were donated to the Liberation War Museum and some to the Army Museum for preservation. Also read: Discussion in UN: Recognition of 1971 genocide sought Senior officers of the army, other members of the army and local dignitaries were also present at that time.

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) held two virtual events, one on December 14 in remembrance of martyred intellectuals of Bangladesh, and on December 16, celebrating 50 years of victory on the Victory Day. Akku Chowdhury, valiant freedom fighter and a founding trustee member of the Liberation War Museum, was the keynote speaker at the Victory Day event. "We fought to ensure the freedom of all citizens, irrespective of their race, religion and gender. It is time for us to reflect whether we have truly been able to establish that freedom today. During the war, our weapon we fought with guns, but today the weapon for moving forward is technology," Akku said.   Also read: UN lauds Bangladesh’s massive successes as it celebrates Victory Day He added, “We have to stand out in the modern world by utilizing the benefits of Digital Bangladesh that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given to you all.” In his introductory speech, ULAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Imran Rahman highlighted the country's achievements in the 50th year of the great victory. "We have built a prosperous country in the last fifty years. The task of bringing the country to the peak of prosperity in the next fifty years must be done by the youth of our society," he said. ULAB’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Shamsad Mortuza, said “At the time of independence, about 80 per cent of the people of Bangladesh were below the poverty line. Today that has completely changed. Eighty per cent of the population now live above the poverty line. But we cannot avoid our responsibility to the remaining 20 percent of people who still live below the poverty line.” On December 14, Dr Md Fazle Rabbi and Dr Jahanara Rabbi's daughter, Dr Nusrat Rabbi was the keynote speaker of the program 'Remembering Martyred Intellectuals, The Spirit of 1971: A Discussion'. ULAB Board of Trustees member Ms. Ameena Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Imran Rahman, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor professor Shamsad Mortuza spoke on the occasion. Also read: Bangladesh set to celebrate 51st Victory Day Thursday In their speeches, they all highlighted the irreparable loss the country has had, due to the killings of the intellectuals. They all thanked Dr Nusrat Rabbi for her presenting her father’s story through her book for the entire country to know and appreciate. Dr Nusrat Rabbi reflected on the ultimate "Sacrifices and strides made by the relentless champions of the first few decades of the nation and the martyrs for the cause of Bangladesh" with reference to her book, "The Spirit of 1971: A Memoir." Both the events were attended by ULAB’s Treasurer, the Registrar, Deans, Department Heads, faculty members, officials, and students of ULAB.

BNP on Tuesday paid tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city, marking the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with party senior leaders placed the wreaths and stood in a solemn silence there for some time as a mark of respect to the great national heroes who lost their lives for the cause of the country. Read:Sacrifices of martyrs to go in vain without democracy: BNP BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman, south city unit convener Abdus Salam and party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and publicity secretary Sheaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anee were, among others, present there. Later, different associate bodies of the party also placed wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial paying homage to the martyred intellectuals. On the night of December 14, 1971, over 200 intellectuals, including educationists, journalists, litterateurs, writers, physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers had been picked up in Dhaka by Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their local collaborators. Read:It’s inevitable consequence of HR violations, BNP about US sanctions BNP kept the national flag at half-mast and hoisted black flags atop all its offices, including the Nayapaltan central one, in the morning on the occasion. Besides, the party arranged a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh on Monday in observance of the day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day.On behalf of the Prime Minister, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury placed the wreaths at Memorial at 7:05am. Also read: Nation set to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day TuesdayOn the night of December 14, 1971, over 200 intellectuals, including educationists, journalists, litterateurs, writers, physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers had been picked up in Dhaka by Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their local collaborators.

The government on Thursday (Mar 25, 2021) published a list of 1,47,537 freedom fighters and another list of 191 martyred intellectuals after scrutiny.  Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque unveiled the lists at his ministry in the afternoon which will be published at its website on Thursday (Mar 25, 2021). In the next phase, he said, another list of freedom fighters and martyred intellectuals will be published on June 30 after scrutiny.    Also read: Govt to build 30,000 houses for insolvent freedom fighters Besides, the list of gazetted freedom fighters will be published by April 30, the minister said, adding that no new application for including names in the freedom fighters’ list will be allowed. Those who have already submitted their applications can submit appeals, he added. The list of the gazetted freedom fighters prepared by different forces, including the Army, has been cancelled and the list made by the Army was controversial but their allowance is still active, Mozammel said. Also read: Obaidul calls for ending divisions between freedom fighters “We’re scrutinising those who were the real freedom fighters in the forces. We believe the right number will be 8,000-10,000,” he said. “For providing a cent percent error-free list we took time, but still there might be some mistakes, but it won’t a big one,” the minister stated adding, “Today, we’ve published 1,47,537 names and after scrutiny the number of total freedom fighters won’t go beyond 1,70,000.” Also read: Home Minister provides assistance to Freedom Fighters Replying to a question about the enlistment of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in the list, he said their names have been included as they have fought the Liberation War but the misdeeds committed by them, including abetting the assassins of Bangabandhu will be mentioned beside their names in the list, Haque said. “As freedom fighters, its their achievement, no one can snatch it from them.” He said, adding, “A committee has been formed over revoking their gallantry title Bir Uttam. Bir Uttam is honour and any government can honour anyone and also can revoke it for other offences.” Also read: 1,256 more included in freedom fighter list On February 9, the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) at a meeting discussed the ways to revoke the gallantry title of Ziaur Rahman for ‘violating’ the constitution, ‘abetting’ the self-proclaimed killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in escaping the country. Bir Uttam, the second-highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh, was conferred on Ziaur Rahman for his contributions to the Liberation War as a sector commander. You May also like Move to revoke Zia's title: BNP announces fresh protest prog

To mark the 50th anniversary of Martyred Intellectuals Day, various cultural organisations in Bangladesh on Monday organised several cultural programmes and also paid floral tributes to those men of letters killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day.