BNP Pays Homage to Martyred Intellectuals, 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 lost their lives for the cause of the country, reports UNB. 

BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, vice chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar, Dr 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 has 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 has 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 they want to take back Bangladesh for which the freedom fighters and the martyred intellectuals sacrificed their lives and where democracy will be properly practised and people will be able to cast their votes and elect the representatives of their choice.