Rich tributes being paid to martyrs

Staff Correspondent, Savar: Thousands of people are thronging into the national mausoleum to pay tributes to the martyrs of liberation war.

People from all walks of life including school children have attended to pay homage to the martyrs. Somebody is paying respects barefooted with tears in their eyes.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina  paid their tribute to the brave martyrs who gave their lives for the nation marking the 49th Independence and National Day.

President Hamid first placed a wreath at the altar of the memorial followed by the Prime Minister.

After placing the wreaths, the President and the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Great War of Liberation in 1971.

A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion while the bugles played the last post.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, members of the cabinet, PM’s advisers, parliament members, freedom fighters, foreign diplomats, and high civil and military officials were present.

Later, flanked by senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, laid another wreath at the National Memorial on behalf of her party.

Besides, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia, and Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain also paid homage to the war heroes of 1971 by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar.

Wreaths were also placed by Jatiya Party’s Co-Chairperson Begum Rawshan Ershad and Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga.

Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sayeed Khokan and Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Atiqul Islam also paid homage to the martyrs by placing wreaths separately.

A crowd had started to gather at the National Martyrs’ Memorial before the break of dawn on Tuesday. It only grew in size as the day wore on.

It was on this day in 1971 that Bangalees took up arms in their struggle for independence against the occupying Pakistani forces, starting the Liberation War.


risingbd/Dhaka/March 26, 2019/Sakib/Mukul