Heart-rending scene at janaza joined by thousands
Staff Correspondent
Forty-eight army officers, wife of the slain BDR director general and a soldier — all killed during the February 25-26 mutiny of the border guards at their headquarters — were laid to eternal rest with state honours in a sombre atmosphere yesterday.
Of the martyrs, forty-two were buried at Banani Army Graveyard in the capital and eight at their respective villages.
Earlier, namaz-e-janaza of the army officers, BDR chief’s wife Nazneen Shakil and the soldier was held with state ceremonies at the National Parade Square.
The president, the deputy speaker, ministers, MPs, chiefs of the three services, bereaved families, serving and retired army officials and general people in thousands joined the janaza prayers.
As coffins of the army officers and two others were carried to the Parade Square in a convoy amid 21 gun salutes at 10:15am and kept under a shed in lines, their family members broke down in tears.
Khatib of the Army Central Mosque at Dhaka Cantonment Md Mahmudul Haque led the janaza.
President Zillur Rahman and chiefs of the three services then placed wreaths on the coffins.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s military secretary placed wreaths .on behalf of her.
Three fighter jets of the air force flew past in salute to the martyrs.
Bodies of 42 of them were then taken to the army graveyard in a convoy and laid to rest at about noon. Bodies of the other eight were sent to their village homes.
At the army graveyard, a pall of gloom descended as members of the grieving families and many others burst into tears while the coffins were being lowered into the graves. Army officials present there also could not hold back tears.
The martyrs are BDR chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, his wife Nazneen Shakil, Brig Gen Abdul Bari, Brig Gen Zakir Hossain, Col Mujibul Haque, Col Anisuzzaman, Col Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, Col Kudrat Elahi Rahman Shafiq, Col Mohammad Akhtar Hossain, Col Rezaul Kabir, Col Nafiz Uddin Ahmed, Col Kazi Emdadul Haq, Col Samsul Arefin Ahammed, Col Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, Col Kazi Moazzem Hossain, Col Md Shawkat Imam, Col Mohammad Emdadul Islam, Col Md Aftabul Islam, Lt Col Enshad Ibn Amin, Lt Col Enayetul Haque, Lt Col Golam Kibria, Lt Col Shamsul Azam, Lt Col Md Badrul Huda, Lt Col Md Saiful Islam, Lt Col Md Lutfar Rahman, Lt Col Mohammad Sajjadur Rahman, Lt Col Kazi Rabi Rahman, Lt Col Lutfar Rahman Khan, Maj Mizanur Rahman, Maj Mahbubur Rahman, Maj Md Makbul Hossain, Maj Md Abdus Salam Khan, Maj Hossain Sohel Shahnewaj, Maj Kazi Mosaddek Hossain, Major Mohammad Saleh, Maj Mahmud Hasan, Maj Mustak Mahmud, Maj Mahmudul Hasan, Maj Humayun Haider, Maj Md Azharul Islam, Maj Md Humayun Kabir Sarkar, Maj Md Khalid Hossain, Maj Mohammad Maksum-ul-Hakim, Maj Syed Md Idris Iqbal, Maj Md Rafiqul Islam, Maj Muhammad Mosharaf Hossain, Maj Mohammad Mominul Islam Sarkar, Maj Mostafa Asaduzzaman and Maj S M Mamunur Rahman, and soldier Zahurul Islam.
Courtesy of www.thedailystar.net
