BNP observes Martyred Intellectuals Day, vows to restore democracy

BNP on Wednesday paid tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city, marking the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain along with party senior leaders placed the wreaths and stood in solemn silence there for some time as a mark of respect to the great national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, vice-chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar, AZM Zahid, BNP chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman, Abul Khayer Bhuiyan and organising secretary Sayed Emran Saleh Prince 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.

BNP kept the national flag at half-mast and hoisted black flags atop all its offices, including the Nayapaltan central office.

Besides, the party organised a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon in observance of the day.

Later, talking to reporters, Mosharraf alleged that the government had shattered the dreams of the freedom fighters and the martyred intellectuals by destroying democracy.

‘Not just us, the entire world is saying this government has snatched our constitutional and fundamental rights to hang onto power by force,’ he said.

The BNP leader said that the country’s people have already given a verdict through BNP’s 10 divisional rallies that the Awami League government had annihilated democracy and ruined the country’s economy through plundering. ‘They (govt) won’t be able to restore democracy and people’s rights. So, people want to oust this regime.’

He said that they wanted to take back Bangladesh for which the freedom fighters and the martyred intellectuals sacrificed their lives and where democracy would be properly practised and people would be able to cast their votes and elect the representatives of their choice.