In the first hour of Ekushey February, the President and the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government paid heartfelt tributes to the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
Shortly after midnight, President Md. Sahabuddin was the first to lay a wreath at the monument, honoring the martyrs of the Language Movement. Following him, at around 12:12 AM, the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, also paid his respects by placing a floral wreath. He stood in solemn silence for a few moments, reflecting on the sacrifices of the language heroes.
Earlier, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan welcomed the President and the Chief Adviser to the Shaheed Minar premises.
After the President and Chief Adviser paid their respects, other dignitaries, including Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, members of the caretaker government’s advisory council, diplomats from various countries, Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, Army Chief General Wakar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, also laid wreaths at the monument.
The Dhaka University community then paid their respects under the direction of the vice-chancellor. The martyrs were also honoured by members of the University Teachers’ Association, the University Senate and Syndicate, those wounded in the July mass uprising, and other student organisations. People from all walks of life were able to pay their respects when the Shaheed Minar was made accessible to the general public after these ceremonies.
