Thousands Gather at Shaheed Minar to Honor Martyrs

Photo : Collected

Thousands of people thronged the premises of the Central Shaheed Minar on Saturday morning to pay solemn tribute to the Language Movement martyrs on International Mother Language Day.

Representatives of political parties, social organisations and educational institutions arrived throughout the morning to lay wreaths and observe the day with due respect.

At the first hour of the day, President Mohammad Shahabuddin paid homage at 12:01am by placing a wreath at the monument. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman followed at 12:08am, accompanied by members of his cabinet.

After the prime minister’s tribute, wreaths were placed on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Zia family.

Leaders of the 11-party alliance led by Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, also paid their respects. Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam, along with other alliance MPs, were present.

Later, Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Ghani, Appellate Division judges including Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, and senior officials offered tributes. The chiefs of the armed forces also paid homage, including Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.

On behalf of University of Dhaka, Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan placed a wreath.

Various political parties and organisations, including the National Citizen Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, NDM, AB Party, Jatiya Party, CPB, BASAD, JASAD, JSD and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, also offered floral tributes.

Student organisations such as Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Union, Chhatra Front and Chhatra Maitri joined the observances, reflecting a broad cross-section of society united in remembrance of the language heroes.