Observed by Bangladesh Frequency Annual | Date 14 December | |
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Official name Bengali: শহীদ বুদ্ধিজীবী দিবস Shaheed Buddhijibi Dibôsh' Significance Commemoration of executions of Bengali intellectuals Next time 14 December 2017 (2017-12-14) | ||
Martyred Intellectuals Day (Bengali: শহীদ বুদ্ধিজীবী দিবস Shaheed Buddhijibi Dibôsh) is observed on 14 December in Bangladesh to commemorate those intellectuals who were killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War, particularly on 25 March and 14 December 1971. Just two days after the 14 December carnage, on 16 December, Bangladesh became independent through the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces. Pakistani forces and local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Rajakar forces committed the killings aiming at annihilating the country's intellectual class.
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Memorial in remembrance of the martyred intellectuals
In memory of those were killed, a memorial known as the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial (Badhya Bhumi Smriti Soudha) was built at Rayer Bazaar in Dhaka.
History
The Liberation War of Bangladesh began on 26 March 1971 and ended with the victory of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971. On 14 December, sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators—Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams—abducted and killed front-line Bengali intellectuals and professionals to cripple a newborn nation intellectually. Renowned academics, teachers, litterateurs, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their houses blindfolded and were killed and their bodies dumped in Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other killing grounds in Dhaka just two days ahead of the final victory of the liberation war of Bangladesh.