DHAKA, Dec 14, 2022 (BSS) - Dhaka University (DU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman today said international recognition is required for the planned killing of Bangladeshi intellectuals and professionals by the Pakistani forces and their collaborators at the end of the War of Independence on December 14, 1971. 

"Pakistani forces killed the intellectuals to make the country brainless who tried to present the scenario of communalism, extremism and barbaric genocide of the Pakistani aggressors in the country to the world," said Akhtaruzzaman. 

He was addressing a virtual discussion at university's Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom today on the occasion of Martyred Intellectual Day, said a press release. 

Akhtaruzzaman said they all were famous and legendary persons in their respective professions and thus, the best children of the country were killed deliberately to make the nation brainless, he added. 

Due respect will be shown to the martyred intellectuals by building a society with liberal, non-communal and human values holding the spirit of Liberation War and following the ideology of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he added. 

 Akhtaruzzaman also called upon the country's teachers, researchers, intellectuals and the writers to come forward to present the actual history of Liberation War and the ideology of the country's martyred intellectuals to the future generation. 

Akhtaruzzaman said, "The goal of the martyred intellectuals was to build a liberal and humane society based on knowledge and information technology. 

Pro-VC (Administration) Dr Mohammad Samad, Pro-VC (Academic) ASM Maksud Kamal, Treasurer Mamtaj Uddin Ahmed, General Secretary President of DU Teachers' Association Professor Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan and members of Officers Associations, among others, addressed the discussion. 

To observe the day, a series of programs were held at DU campus which included hoisting of black flags, placing wreaths to the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard, offering special prayers and holding discussions on the supreme sacrifice of the most enlightened sons of the soil. 

University teachers, students, officers and employees gathered at the premises of Aparajeya Bangla and then paid tribute to the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard near university's central mosque, memorials near Jagannath hall and others memorials in the different residential areas on the campus. 

Later, they proceeded towards Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in the city's Mirpur area and paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals. 

Special prayers were offered at the Central Mosque of the university along with the other mosques and places of worship of different faiths for praying peace upon the souls of martyred intellectuals.