53 years on: No complete list of martyred intellectuals

The long-awaited final list of martyred intellectuals from 1971 remains unfinished, as the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs (MoLWA) faces further delays. Despite initial hopes of completion this year, officials have now deferred the process again.

Government sources cite disruptions caused by the mass uprising on August 5 as a major reason for the setback. However, insiders suggest that even without this, the process would still have been incomplete due to other complications.

So far, 560 names have been officially recognized as martyred intellectuals through gazettes published in phases. The first list of 191 names came out on April 7, 2021, followed by another 143 on May 29, 2022. This year, two more lists were released—108 names in February and 118 in March.

Back in December 2020, the government formed an 11-member verification and selection committee. At that time, former minister AKM Mozammel Haque revealed that the committee approved a list of 1,222 names compiled from various sources, including postal stamps honoring martyred intellectuals.

In recent updates, MoLWA officials admitted that finalizing the list by December 14, 2024, is unlikely. A key obstacle is the complex definition of "martyred intellectuals," revised in 2020. The definition includes individuals from diverse professions—teachers, scientists, journalists, lawyers, doctors, artists, and others—who played significant intellectual roles in Bangladesh’s liberation and were killed or abducted between March 25, 1971, and January 31, 1972.

However, officials argue that the definition lacks regional clarity, although the verification committee later clarified it applies nationwide.

Deputy Secretary (Gazette) Haridash Thakur described the task as monumental, requiring significant effort. He said that changes in the situation and leadership have slowed progress. The previous verification committee was dissolved, and a new one was formed to ensure greater accuracy, causing further delays.

Joint Secretary Md Tamijul Islam Khan, who recently joined his role, noted that he has been focused on preparing for Martyred Intellectuals Day and Victory Day and hasn’t received complete information on the list.

Liberation War Affairs Advisor Farooq-e-Azam emphasized the importance of maintaining impartiality in the process. He called for better coordination among MoLWA, the Jatio Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka), and the Bangladesh Freedom Fighter Welfare Trust.

Dr. MA Hasan, head of the Liberation War fact-finding committee, expressed deep frustration over the delay. He stated that failing to honor the sacrifices of the nation’s intellectuals is a national shortcoming.

He also stressed the need for a system that ensures continuity in such efforts, regardless of changes in government, to avoid further disruptions in the future.