The Bangladesh Liberation War against the country West Pakistan began on 26 March 1971, grew into the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and ended with the victory of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971. On 14 December, sensing imminent defeat, Pakistani forces and their local collaborators— Shanti committee, Razakars, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams—abducted and killed front-line Bengali intellectuals and professionals in order to cripple the new nation intellectually.[4] Renowned academics, teachers, intellectuals, doctors, engineers, journalists, and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their houses, blindfolded, and killed. Their bodies were dumped in Rayerbazar, Mirpur, and other killing grounds in Dhaka just two days ahead of the final victory of the war.[5]
During the nine-month duration of the war, the Pakistani Army, with the assistance of local collaborators, systematically executed an estimated 991 teachers, 13 journalists, 49 physicians, 42 lawyers, and 16 writers, artists, and engineers. Even after the official ending of the war on 16 December, there were reports of killings being committed by either the armed Pakistani soldiers or by their collaborators. In one such incident, notable filmmaker Jahir Raihan was killed on 30 January 1972 in Mirpur allegedly by the armed Beharis. In memory of the people who were killed, 14 December is observed in Bangladesh as Shaheed Buddhijibi Dibôsh (Day of the Martyred Intellectuals).[6]
In memory of those killed, a memorial known as the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial (Badhya Bhumi Smriti Soudha) was built at Rayer Bazaar,[11]Mohammadpur Thana in Dhaka, in 1996–99.[12] The memorial was designed by architect Farid U Ahmed and Jami Al Shafi.[13][14] The initial proposal for a memorial at Rayer Bazar was brought forward by Projonmo 71 (organisation of the children of the martyrs of liberation war), who also laid a temporary foundation stone in 1991.[citation needed]
^Khan, Tamanna (4 November 2013). "It was matricide". The Daily Star. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
^Momen, Abul (2013). Meghna Guhathakurta; Willem van Schendel (eds.). The Bangladesh Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Duke University Press. p. 403. ISBN978-0-8223-5318-8.