Farewell in tears: Martyred Army officers given state funeral

Bodies of Army officers being taken to NationalParade Square for funeral: People from all strata of lifetake part at the Janaza of the martyrs: President ZillurRahman, chiefs of three services were present.

Three fighters of the Air Force showing respect tothe martyred Army officials by fly-past over the NationalParade Square on Monday.

Namaj-e Janaza of 50 victims including BDR Director General Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed and his wife Nazneen Shakil of the bloody BDR mutiny was held at National Parade Ground in the capital early yesterday amid state ceremonies.

President, Deputy Speaker of the parliament, the cabinet members, chiefs of the three armed forces, grieving families, lawmakers, retired army officers, freedom fighters, politicians, members of the civil society and hundreds of people participated in Namaj-e Janaza. They witnessed a memorial parade for the 50 victims including 48 army officers, DG's wife and a solider slain in the heinous massacre by the BDR mutineers on Feb 25-26 at the BDR headquarters in the city. Khatib of the army central mosque in Dhaka Cantonment, Md Mahmudul Haque, conducted the prayers at around 10:45am at the National Parade Ground.Later, President Zillur Rahman, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, military secretary on behalf of the Prime Minister, Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed, Navy Chief Vice-Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed and Air Chief Air-Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman placed floral wreaths on coffins of the deceaseds.

Earlier, the deceaseds were brought to the Parade Ground in army lorries and placed on decorated podiums. Family members and relatives of the deceased burst into tears during the funeral function that created a sombre atmosphere there.

42 bodies were laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard while eight others were buried at their respective native villages with state honours amid a sombre farewell.In the funeral function, a 21-gun salute and flying salute by three fighter aircrafts were given in respect to the martyred.

Apart from DG of the BDR Maj General Shakil Ahmed and his wife Nazneen Shakil Shipu, the 47 other buried army officers and the soldier are: Brig General M Abdul Bari, Brig General M Zakir Hoassain, Col Mujibul Huq, Col M Anisuzzaman, Col M Mosiur Rahman, Col Kudrat Ilahi Rahman Shafiq, Col M Akhter Hossain, Col M Rezaul Kabir, Col Nafizuddin Ahmed, Col Kazi Emdadul Haq, Col Samsul Arefin Ahmed, ColM Nakibur Rahman, Col Kazi Moazzem Hossain, Col M Shawkat Imam, Col M Emdadul Islam, Col M Aftabul Islam, Lt Col Enshad Ibn Amin, Lt Col Enayetul Huq, Lt Col Golam Kibria, Lt Col Shamsul Azam, Lt Col M Badrul Huda, Lt Col M Saiful Islam, Lt Col M Lutfar Rahman, Lt Col M Sajjadur Rahman, Lt Col Kazi Rabi Rahman, Lt Col Lutfar Rahman Khan, Major Mizanur Rahman, Maj Mahbubur Rahman Maj M Mokbul Hossain, Maj M Abdus Salam Khan, Maj Hossain Sohel Shahnewaz, Maj Kazi Mosaddek Hossain, Maj M Saleh, Maj Mahmud Hassan, Maj Mustak Mahmud, Maj Mahmudul Hasan, Maj Humayun Haider, Maj M Azharul Islam, Maj M Humayun Kabir Sarkar, Maj M Khalid Hossain, Maj M Maksum-ul-Hakim, Maj Syed M Idris Iqbal, Maj M Rafiqul Islam, Maj M Mosharraf Hossain, Maj M Mominul Islam Sarkar, Maj Mostafa Asaduzzaman and Maj SM Mamunur Rahman and soldier M Zahurul Islam.Meanwhile, namaz-e-janaza for seven other army officials was held on Friday at the cantonment. The BDR commanding officials whose funerals were held there are Brig Gen M Abdul Bari, Col Mujibul Haq, Col M Anisuzzaman, Col Zahid, Lt Col Abu Musa M Kaiser, Lt Col Enayet and Major Mizan.

A joint team of Army, RAB and Police, so far recovered 71 bodies till Sunday. Of them, 48 officers were identified.

Forty army officers were rescued alive from the BDR Headquarters and 6 still remain missing.