Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, issued a statement on 13 December calling upon the people of the country to observe the ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day’ on 14 December and ‘Great Victory Day’ on 16 December with due respect and in a solemn and dignified manner.
In the statement, he said, “14 December is ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day’ and 16 December is ‘Glorious Victory Day’. These two days are extremely important and significant in our national life. They are eternal symbols of sacrifice, struggle, and glory in the history of the nation. We remember with deep respect and gratitude the contributions of all the martyred intellectuals and the martyred heroic freedom fighters who participated in the War of Liberation and sacrificed their invaluable lives for the establishment of the country’s independence and sovereignty. We pray to Almighty Allah seeking mercy and salvation for all of them.”
He further said, “We express our deep respect for all the valiant freedom fighters who took part in the Great War of Liberation in 1971 and devoted themselves to the struggle for the liberation of the motherland. At the same time, we pray for the forgiveness of the souls of all those who were martyred in the July–August mass uprising. We also express our deep condolences to the bereaved families of all the martyrs and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
The Jamaat Ameer said, “The nation is going to observe ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day’ and ‘Great Victory Day’ at a time when, through the united movement of students and the general public, the country has been freed from the grip of a fascist government. The people of the country have been liberated from the brutal curse of more than fifteen and a half years of misrule, oppression, repression, enforced disappearances, and killings, and are now aspiring for peace, relief, and stability. At the same time, the country is striving to overcome a fragile economic situation. On the other hand, the domestic and foreign collaborators of fascism have not yet stopped. Through various conspiracies and devious tactics, they are attempting to destabilize the country. A glaring example of this is the heinous attack on Sharif Osman Hadi on 12 December. In this context, we earnestly call upon the people of the country to unite and resist all anti-national conspiracies and plots.”
He further added, reaffirming our firm commitment to safeguarding the country’s independence and sovereignty and to establishing the rights of the people, I earnestly call upon all branches of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the people of the country to observe ‘Martyed Intellectuals Day’ on 14 December and ‘Great Victory Day’ on 16 December with due dignity through discussion meetings, rallies, and prayers. At the same time, on the occasion of ‘Great Victory Day,’ I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the people of the country and pray for the overall happiness, prosperity, and welfare of the nation.”
Jamaat-e-Islami announces Three-Day program
1. On 14 December (Sunday), a discussion meeting marking Martyred Intellectuals Day will be held at the Krishibid Institution Hall, Dhaka.
2. On 15 December (Monday), a discussion meeting marking Great Victory Day will be held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB), Dhaka.
3. On 16 December (Tuesday) at 7:00 am, a Youth Marathon will be organized at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka, under the initiative of the Central Youth and Sports Department of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
In addition, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami calls upon all its branch organizations and the people of the country to observe ‘Great Victory Day’ on 16 December with due respect across the country through discussion meetings, rallies, and prayers, reaffirming a firm commitment to protecting Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty and to establishing the rights of the people.
