DHAKA, Dec 12, 2024 (BSS) - President Mohammed Shahabuddin today called upon everyone to play effective roles from their respective positions to build a new Bangladesh being inspired with the non-discrimination spirit. 

“Play an effective role from your respective positions to build a new Bangladesh being imbued with the non-discriminatory spirit,” he said in a message on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day to be observed on Saturday through different programmes.

The president paid profound respect and rich tributes to the best sons of the soil, including academicians, doctors, scientists, writers, journalists and artists, who were abducted by the occupation forces and made them hostage during December 10 to December 14 in 1971.

Terming the brutal killing of country’s prominent intellectuals as an irreparable loss to the nation, he said the intellectuals made an outstanding contribution to the success of the Great Liberation War by giving intellectual and strategic advices to the exile government during the war.

The martyred intellectuals created public opinion in favor of the War of Liberation through the application of their talents and wisdom, through the practice of art, literature and writings, the President added. 

In the message, he said the Bengali nation was gradually prepared for the liberation struggle through a long-cherished movement against the long-term exploitation, deprivation and discrimination.

President Shahabuddin said with the declaration of independence on March 26, 1971, the entire nation jumped into the liberation struggle that continued for about the nine-month armed war and subsequently the final victory was achieved. 

Sensing their certain defeat, the anti-independence elements carried out the brutal killings in Dhaka and elsewhere across the country on December 14, 1971 with the nefarious purpose to make the nation intellectually bankrupt, he mentioned. 

The Head of the State said, “I think that their sacrifice will be worthwhile only if we can build a happy-prosperous and discrimination-free new Bangladesh based on the Liberation War and a non-communal spirits followed by the ideals and paths left by the martyred intellectuals.”