“Political speech over it [figure of Liberation War martyrs] is very unfortunate and unwarranted. This is a settled issue. There is no scope to argue over it. No one should give political speeches about it.” 

Eminent educationist Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury  

“It's an extremely derogatory remark about the martyred intellectuals. It's meant to disrespect them and their family members. Only those who still uphold the ideology and work of Pakistan can make such comments.” 

Noted intellectual Prof Anisuzzaman 

“Khaleda Zia is trying to please Pakistan to go to power by making such comments. And as crony of Khaleda, people like Goyeshwar are saying what Khaleda is saying ... They actually want to destroy the sovereignty of the country. But they won't be successful.”

Shayamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, widow of martyr physician Alim Chowdhury.

“I have no words to express hatred for someone who can think this way and make such derogatory comments about the country's martyred intellectuals. I just feel hatred for him and I feel terrified that such a person is living in our country.”

Prof and eminent writer Zafar Iqbal  

The person who called martyred intellectuals fools  is himself a fool. They don't have the understanding of independence as they have already sold their conscience to Pakistan ... They have lost their sanity. They should be sent to mental 
hospitals.”

Nooh-Ul Alam Lenin, presidium member of Awami League, said

" Goyeshwar's comment is very cruel.  It hurt me. The country's intellectuals were killed very brutally. Even, some of them are yet to be traced.”

Maj Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, BNP standing committee member  

Shahriar Kabir. Star file photo

“Did any country win the war of independence anywhere without internal resistance? If the people did not show the courage to stay inside the country to provide shelter and treatment to the guerrilla fighters, how could we have won the war? Khaleda Zia and Goyeshwar Roy committed crimes against the state. Challenging the Liberation War is tantamount to negating the existence of Bangladesh. Khaleda Zia and Goyeshwar Roy do not believe in the existence of Bangladesh. That is why they are so adamant to challenge established historical facts regarding the number of martyrs and the contribution of intellectuals.”

Shahriar Kabir, war crimes researcher 

“Those who make such comments are not real patriots. A true patriot can never utter such disparaging comment on the country's best of the sons.”

Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam, a sector commander and Awami League MP   

“Such a remark against the brightest intellects of the country is an insult not only for individuals but also for the whole nation. He doesn't have the least idea how the Liberation War was fought.”

Dr Sarwar Ali, trustee, Liberation War Museum  

“Those who show such utter disrespect to the martyred intellectuals are completely stupid. His comment is tantamount to sedition as he has stigmatised the whole nation by giving bad names to the best sons of the soil. He should be given exemplary punishment in legal ways.”

MA Hasan, convener of War Crimes Facts Finding Committee   

“These remarks are nothing new. We have been hearing these from Pakistan-minded people since our liberation. Our independence was declared on March 26. Why would we leave our own country? We were captives, but we were in our own country. Those who were teachers, doctors and journalists, they stayed back for public interest, which is patriotism.”

Meghna Guhathakurta, daughter of martyr intellectual Prof Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta