Final list of martyred intellectuals delayed amid uncertainty

The plan to complete the list of martyred intellectuals by December 16 has been put on hold, raising concerns over when or if it will be finished. 

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, which started this initiative, has suspended the process, as reported by The Daily Star.

Back in 2020, a national committee was formed by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to compile the names of martyred intellectuals. A sub-committee was also set up to carefully verify the names submitted for the list.

Based on the committee‍‍`s work, the ministry has published four gazettes over the past four years, officially listing the names of 560 martyred intellectuals.

The last meeting of the national committee was held on March 18, while the sub-committee last met on July 1.

A committee member, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "After that meeting, we haven‍‍`t heard anything from the authorities regarding the list of martyred intellectuals. I honestly don’t think this initiative will move forward."

Sources from both the ministry and the committee indicated that the process was paused to avoid any controversy over the number of martyred intellectuals.

Ishrat Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the head of the national committee, stated, "The process has been suspended because there is currently no active committee. Once the committees are restructured, the task of completing the list of martyred intellectuals may be reconsidered."

She added, "This is a policy matter. I cannot make a decision on this alone. It may be reviewed by the interim government or a future political government."

During the final days of the Liberation War, Pakistan and their local collaborators, including Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and Razakars, abducted and brutally killed prominent individuals such as teachers, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, and others. 

The bodies were later found at various killing sites like Rayerbazar and Mirpur in Dhaka.

The massacre was a calculated attempt by the Pakistani forces and their allies to cripple the emerging Bangladesh by wiping out its intellectual community.

A committee member mentioned that names of martyred intellectuals can be found in various sources, including the Shaheed Buddhijibi Koshgrantha (Encyclopedia of Martyred Intellectuals), the 1972 documentary Bangladesh, Banglapedia, and even postage stamps.

The Shaheed Buddhijibi Koshgrantha lists 328 intellectuals, though it admits the list is incomplete.

The 1972 documentary Bangladesh claims 1,109 intellectuals were martyred, while Banglapedia gives a figure of 1,111. 

These include 991 teachers, 49 doctors, 42 lawyers, 13 journalists, 9 writers and artists, 5 engineers, and 2 from other professions.

Many Liberation War researchers believe the actual number of martyred intellectuals could be higher. 

A committee set up in 1972 called the Buddhijibi Nidhan Tathyanusandhan Committee (Committee for the Investigation of Intellectual Killings) prepared an initial list that included 20,000 martyred intellectuals.