President, PM pay homage to language heroes

President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina have paid their tributes to the martyrs of the language movement on the occasion of Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day.

They paid the homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past Tuesday night.

President Abdul Hamid and prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together in slow pace as the song on Amar Ekushey--"Amar bhaiyer rakte rangano Ekushey February"-- was playing.

The president was the first to lay the wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar. Just after the president, the prime minister placed the wreath at the Shaheed Minar.

They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.

Ministers, advisers to the prime minister, parliament members, chiefs of three services, diplomats, senior Awami League leaders, freedom fighters, and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

Later, speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, deputy speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia and leader of the opposition in parliament Begum Raushan Ershad placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.

On arrival at the Shaheed Minar, the president was received by prime minister Sheikh Hasina and vice-chancellor of Dhaka University professor Md Akhtaruzzaman.

Flanked by cabinet members and senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, later placed another wreath at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of the party.