1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals
| 1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Bangladesh genocide | |
A sculpture in Meherpur showing the execution of intellectuals by the Pakistan Army in 1971 | |
| Location | East Pakistan |
| Date | 25 March, 14 – 16 December 1971 |
| Target | Bengali intellectuals |
Attack type | |
| Deaths | 1,111 |
| Perpetrators | Shanti Committee Razakars Al-Badr Al-Shams |
| Motive | Anti-Bengali sentiment, destruction of Bengali Intelligentsia |
In 1971, the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators, most notably the extreme right-wing militia group Al-Badr, engaged in the genocide of Bengali intellectuals during the Bangladesh War of 1971. Bengali intellectuals were abducted, tortured and killed during the entire duration of the war as part of the Bangladesh genocide. However, the largest number of systematic executions took place on 25 March and 14 December 1971, two dates that bookend the conflict. 14 December is commemorated in Bangladesh as Martyred Intellectuals Day.