"I thought Liberation War monuments, like other structures of historical value were kept clean all the year around and not only on special days," he said.

Most visitors to the graveyard mused on the same question. They complained that the graveyard is not taken care of, and only when December 14 each year approaches, the site is cleaned, fences raised, repairs done, walls painted and security tightened.

A visit to the site recently showed that renovation work was in progress. Despite a notice on the gate that stated: entry prohibited, residents adults and children alike were seen walking in and out of the premises at will.

Police on duty at the gate seemed not to care about the effects of the people going to and fro, marring the newly cemented path or displacing a tile just placed.

Interestingly, children in roller blades and skates argued with the workers for having stopped them from playing inside.

"We played just last night, why can't we play in the day?" persisted a 10-year-old, while a few others pushed their way in.

"The premises will be in our care till December 12 after which date we will hand over the premises to the law enforcement agencies. The Rapid action battalion (Rab) is on constant patrol and security is tighter," said Ratan Shikder, proprietor of Shikder Enterprises, who was contracted for repairs and renovation.

"My company was entrusted with the duty of clearing overgrown grass and getting rid of plants on the pathways. We have to replace broken tiles, repair the pathways, paint the fences and boundary walls, re-decorate the two lily ponds and other necessary repairs," Ratan added.

A Mirpur resident said that the graveyard was in a sorry state a few days back.

The premises were full of vendors selling nuts, cigarettes and chips. With garbage and scattered fallen leaves, this was a safe haven for drug addicts, muggers and sex workers after sunset.

People stayed away from visiting the graves of the intellectuals to pay tribute to them because of the lack of security in and around the graveyard.

"This is the only graveyard where 1.4 million people of the country can pay respects to the many intellectuals who died in the 1971 Liberation War," said Akkas Miah, another visitor to the site. "It is our duty to keep this place clean," he added.

The Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur inaugurated by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on December 22, 1972, with the unveiling of a plaque.

Two days before victory emerged after a nine-month war for liberation, Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Rajakars -- the auxiliary forces of the Pakistani army -- picked up renowned teachers, doctors, litterateurs, engineers, barristers and journalists from their homes and killed them at Rayerbazar and Mirpur.

Prof. Munir Chowdhury, Dr. Alim Chowdhury, Prof. Muniruzzaman, Dr. Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Nizamuddin Ahmed, Selina Parvin are a few to be named from the thousands that fell victim to the cruelty of the foe.