PM pays homage to language heroes

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement, marking the great Martyrs' Day and the International Mother Language Day.

He paid homage by placing a wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city at 12:08 am today.

The premier arrived on the Shaheed Minar premises 12.04am.

He proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar in slow pace while playing the historic immortal song on the Amar Ekushey "Amar Vaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February . . . Ami Ki Bhulite Pari?"

After placing the wreath, Tarique Rahman, also chairman of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the Language Movement heroes.

On the occasion, special prayer was offered seeking forgiveness for the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement, 1971 Liberation War, 1990 Anti-autocracy Movement and 2024 July Uprising.

Special prayer was also offered seeking divine blessings for Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The prayer also sought welfare for the country and success for the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Later, flanked by cabinet members and BNP Standing Committee members, the premier placed two wreaths at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of his cabinet and the party.

After that, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Mohammad Nazmul Hassan and Air Force Chief Hassan Mahmud Khan also came to pay tribute to the language martyrs.

Subsequently, Jamaat-e-Islami's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, the leader of the opposition in parliament, paid tribute. He was accompanied by opposition chief whip Nahid Islam and the winning members of parliament from the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance.