President Md. Sahabuddin has said that their sacrifice will be worthwhile only if they can build a non-communal and happy, prosperous and non-discriminatory new Bangladesh based on the spirit of the Liberation War by following the ideals and path of the martyred intellectuals.
He said these things in a message given today (December 13) on the occasion of 'Martyred Intellectuals' Day' tomorrow, Saturday (December 14).
The President said, 'December 14 is Martyred Intellectuals Day. On this day in 1971, on the eve of the final victory in the great Liberation War, the invading forces, in collaboration with anti-liberation forces, brutally killed many distinguished people, including the best sons of the nation, renowned educators, doctors, scientists, writers, journalists, artists. The President remembered the martyred intellectuals, the sun children of the nation, with deep respect and prayed for the forgiveness and peace of their departed souls and said, "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved members of the martyred families."
He said that the Bengali nation gradually prepared for the liberation struggle through a long movement and struggle against long-standing exploitation, deprivation and discrimination. With the declaration of independence on March 26, 1971, the entire nation jumped into the liberation struggle. The final victory was snatched through a long nine-month armed liberation war.
Md. Sahabuddin said, "Our intellectuals, through the application of their intellect and wisdom, the practice of art and literature, and their sharp writing, made an outstanding contribution to creating public opinion in favor of the Liberation War and to advancing the great Liberation War on the path of success by providing intellectual and strategic advice to the Mujibnagar government during the war."
The anti-independence assassins, knowing that their defeat was certain, carried out a hellish massacre across the country, including Dhaka, on December 14, 1971, with the nefarious intention of demoralizing the nation. In fact, intellectuals were killed throughout the Liberation War starting from the night of March 25. However, on the eve of victory, this massacre took a horrific turn on December 14. The brutal murder of the country's renowned intellectuals was an irreparable loss to the nation.
The President, inspired by the spirit of non-discrimination, called on everyone to play an effective role from their respective positions to build a new Bangladesh.