Namaz-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 officers.
Earlier, the dead bodies 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.