DHAKA: President Mohammed Shahabuddin has called on citizens to actively contribute to building a new Bangladesh founded on the principles of non-discrimination, commemorating the sacrifices of martyred intellectuals during the country's Liberation War. The President's appeal came ahead of Martyred Intellectuals Day, which will be observed through various programs. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, President Shahabuddin paid tribute to the intellectuals who were abducted and killed between December 10 and December 14, 1971, by occupation forces. He described these killings as an irreparable loss to the nation, noting the intellectuals' significant contributions to the success of the Liberation War through strategic advice to the exile government and by shaping public opinion in support of the war through their intellectual pursuits. The President highlighted the gradual preparation of the Bengali nation for the liberation struggle, which was fueled by a long-standing movement against exploitation an d discrimination. With the declaration of independence on March 26, 1971, a nine-month armed struggle ensued, culminating in victory. The President condemned the deliberate targeting of intellectuals by anti-independence forces on December 14, 1971, aimed at leaving the nation intellectually weakened. President Shahabuddin emphasized that the sacrifices of the martyred intellectuals would only be honored through the creation of a prosperous and discrimination-free Bangladesh, rooted in the values of the Liberation War and the non-communal ideals upheld by those who lost their lives.
