Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman on Saturday at a discussion urged young generation to build Bangladesh a non-communal and ideal country upholding the spirit of the intellectual martyrs who sacrificed their lives on December 14 for the country’s liberation.
The Dhaka University authority on Saturday observed Martyred Intellectuals Day with due solemnity on the campus.
The university hoisted black flags at the VC Bhaban and other main buildings of the university at 6:15 am. Then the students, teachers, officials and workers gathered at Aparajeya Bangla premises at 6.30am and placed wreaths at the university central mosque premises’ graveyard, Jagannath Hall premises’ Smritisoudha and Smritisoudha of different residential areas.
Later, the university authorities along with the students paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Dhaka’s Mirpur.
Special prayers were also offered at the Central Mosque of the university along with the other mosques and places of worship of different faiths for peace upon the martyred souls.
A discussion was also held at the auditorium of Teacher-Student Centre around 11am with Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr. Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
Pro-VC (Administration) Dr. Mohammad Samad, President of Teachers’ Association ASM Maksud Kamal, General secretary Sibli Rubyat-Ul-Islam, treasurer Dr. Kamal Uddin, Dhaka University Officers Association, and members of associations of different classes of employees of the university joined the discussion.
While addressing in the discussion DU VC Dr. Akhtaruzzaman expressed deep respect to the martyrs and called upon the youth to follow the ideology of the martyred intellectuals in order to make a liberal and non-communal society.
DU VC said, “Intellectuals fought for country and wanted to lead the country under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but the Pakistan army and their fellow killed the country’s brave sons.
In the evening, Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) also arranged a candle lightening program at the Smrity Chirantan memorial, adjacent to the VC’s residence, where monuments have been built to remember the 1971 martyrs from DU.
Bangladesh marks December 14 as Martyred Intellectuals Day to commemorate those intellectuals who were killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators in 1971 during the country’s Liberation War.