“Sacrifices of Martyred Intellectuals Inspire Us to Build the Bangladesh They Dreamed Of”: Bangladeshi Students of University of Saskatchewan.
14 December 2024, Canada: The Bangladesh High Commission in Canada, in collaboration with the Bangladeshi Students’ Association at the University of Saskatchewan (BSAUS), organized a solemn event at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon on 14 December 2024, to honor Martyred Intellectuals Day. The gathering paid tribute to the brave intellectuals who made the ultimate sacrifice during Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971.
Her Excellency Nahida Sobhan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada, graced the occasion. The event was attended by Bangladeshi students studying at the University of Saskatchewan.
The program commenced with a minute of silence to honor the intellectual martyrs who laid down their lives during the 1971 Liberation War and all students who died during the July-August uprising of 2024. Messages from the Hon’ble President and Hon’ble Chief Adviser of Bangladesh were read out by Mr. Md. Sazzad Hossain, Second Secretary of the High Commission, reflecting the nation’s deep gratitude and remembrance of the fallen heroes.
A documentary prepared by the Undergraduate Bangladeshi Students’ Association (UBSA) of University of Saskatchewan followed, vividly capturing the profound sacrifices of the intellectual martyrs. This set the stage for an engaging discussion and open dialogue, during which students shared their reflections. Students remarked:
“The killing of our intellectuals was a deliberate attempt to decimate the intellectual foundation of Bangladesh. The enemy sought to cripple Bangladesh by eliminating its intellectual minds, but their heinous act only strengthened our resolve.” They also said that “Their sacrifice inspires us to build the Bangladesh our intellectual martyrs dreamed of.”
In her address, High Commissioner Nahida Sobhan emphasized the significance of Martyred Intellectuals Day. She paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals of 1971 as well as martyrs of the recent student-led mass revolution and encouraged students to draw strength from the sacrifices of the past to build a prosperous, inclusive, and discrimination-free future for Bangladesh. She echoed the interim government’s priority to actively involve students and youth in nation-building efforts.
In a separate event held at the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa, members of the Bangladeshi community gathered to commemorate Martyred Intellectuals Day. Speakers reflected on the irreplaceable loss of the intellectuals in 1971 and the enduring impact of their sacrifices on Bangladesh’s journey toward independence and progress.
