Dhaka: President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the great language martyrs by laying wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar on behalf of the nation on the first morning of 21st February.
At 12.01 am on Monday, tributes were paid first by the President and then by the Prime Minister in memory of the great language martyrs of ‘52.
Major General SM Salahuddin Islam, Military Secretary to the President paid respects on behalf of the President. Major General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister paid homage on behalf of the Prime Minister.
Like last year, the President and the Prime Minister could not attend the Shaheed Minar in person due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Apart from the Dhaka University authorities, various political parties, social and cultural organizations, educational institutions, government and non-government organizations are paying their respects with flowers at the central Shaheed Minar.
On behalf of the Awami League, five senior leaders of the party led by its general secretary Obaidul Quader paid homage to the martyrs by laying flowers at the Shaheed Minar. Sergeant at Arms MM Naeem Rahman of Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat gave flowers on behalf of Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.
Later, Chief of Army Staff General Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Shaheen Iqbal laid flowers at the Shaheed Minar. After them, the Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, IG of police Benazir Ahmed and Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen paid homage by placing floral wreaths.
Leaders of 14 parties including Awami League, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Parliament GM Quader, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and diplomats from different countries paid their respects.