Legacy Marred in Bangladesh as Extremists Vandalize Dhaka's Martyred Intellectuals Monument
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Synopsis
A mob of extremists has demolished the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Dhaka's Mirpur district, symbolizing the atrocities of the Bangladesh Liberation War. This act is seen as an insult to the martyrs and a reflection of the current lawlessness under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.
Key Takeaways
- Martyred Intellectuals Memorial destroyed by radicals.
- Incident occurred before a high-profile visit from Pakistan.
- Experts condemn the act as a violation of national memory.
- Approximately 1500 memorials vandalized since August 2024.
- Public outrage highlighted on social media platforms.
Dhaka, April 22 (NationPress) In a deeply unsettling episode, a group of extremists razed the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial located in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday. This monument represents the atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The destruction occurred mere days prior to the anticipated visit of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka.
"Before the arrival of the Pakistani Foreign Minister in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus and his pro-Pakistani Islamist-jihadist associates initiated the demolition of the 'Martyred Intellectuals Memorial' in Mirpur, Dhaka. On December 14, 1971, just hours preceding Bangladesh's independence, the Pakistani occupying forces abducted and executed intellectuals, disposing of their bodies in a pond at this site," stated Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, a Dhaka-based counter-terrorism expert, on X.
As footage of the demolition spread across social media, many Bangladeshis expressed their outrage at this heinous act, a reflection of the prevailing lawlessness in Bangladesh under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
Experts view this act as an affront to the martyrs and a facet of the government's appeasement strategy towards Pakistan.
"The Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur — a place where the Bengali nation pays tribute in solemn silence — is now being torn down. Following the notorious Chapter of House No. 32, this marks the second grave blemish in our history, branded upon our nation's conscience. We are a humiliated people — a nation that neglects the sacrifices of its martyrs and obliterates their legacy. This failure is not solely that of the government but represents a moral degradation of an entire society," commented B M Jahid Hasan, former Vice President of Rajshahi University’s Chhatra League.
The memorial in Mirpur honors the heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s independence during the conflict with Pakistan.
On the night of December 14, 1971 — merely two days before the disgraceful capitulation of Pakistani forces — hundreds of the region's leading intellectuals were systematically murdered by the Pakistani army and their local cohorts.
Educators, journalists, medical professionals, engineers, legal experts, artists, and high-ranking officials were forcibly taken from their homes, killed, and their remains abandoned in the haunting darkness.
Subsequent reports indicated that the following morning, numerous lifeless bodies were found strewn across the ditches and drains of Mirpur and the Rayer Bazar brickyards in Dhaka. Some had suffered gunshot wounds while others were brutally tortured.
Victims were discovered with their hands bound, and some had been horrifically mutilated. Since that time, Martyred Intellectuals Day is annually observed on December 14 in solemn remembrance.
Recently, a similar incident occurred when the mural at the Liberation War Memorial Mancha in Lalmonirhat district was destroyed under the orders of the Yunus-led interim government.
This mural depicted significant historical events including the 1950s language movement, the iconic March 7 speech, the War of Independence, the establishment of the Mujibnagar government, the dawn of a new era in the independent nation, the 1971 genocide by Pakistan, the courageous freedom fighters celebrating victory, the seven great heroes, the Pakistani army's surrender, the jubilant crowds waving the national flag, among other pivotal moments.
Last month, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) rebranded several roads, buildings, and structures previously named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his family, and Awami League leaders. Bangabandhu Avenue has been renamed as Shaheed Abrar Fahad Avenue, as per an order from the DSCC.
Since the Yunus government assumed power in August 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approximately 1500 sculptures, murals, and memorials have been vandalized, torched, or uprooted throughout the nation.
