Nation mourns the dead
The nation paid glowing tributes to those BDR officials who were killed in the Wednesday's Peelkhana tragedy in observance of the three-day national mourning on the second day yesterday.
As part of the programme, national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop all government, non-government and private buildings as well as offices of political parties paying deep homage to those officials killed in the Peelkhana tragedy.
People in public and private offices as well as other organisations wore black badges as a mark of respect to the slain BDR officials while milad and doa mahfils also were organised praying for peace of the departed souls.
The ruling Awami League organised a milad and doa mahfil at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city after asr prayers seeking divine blessings for peace of those killed in the bloody incident.
Prayers also were offered seeking divine blessings for the bereaved families.
Senior leaders of the party, ministers and city unit leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Syed Ashraful Islam, Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Abdur Rahman, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Sultan Md Mansur Ahmed, Col (Retd) Shawkat Ali, Abdul Kalam Azad, Ramesh Sen, Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Dr Abdur Razzak, Shamsul Huq Tuku, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Yafes Osman, MA Aziz and Advocate Quamrul Islam attended the milad and doa mahfil, among others.
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh organised a milad and doa mahfil at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque praying for peace of the departed souls. State Minister for Religious affairs Advocate Md Shahjahan Miah and secretary of the ministry also attended the mahfil, among others.
In separate statements yesterday, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Advocate Abdul Hamid, Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali and Chief Whip Vice-principal Abdus Shaheed expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of Army officials in the Peelkhana carnage. Terming the killing at BDR headquarters as painful and barbaric, they said, "It's an irreparable loss for the country".
They prayed for peace of the departed souls and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved families.
Different organisations, individuals and professional bodies also termed the killing of Army officials at BDR headquarters as unwarranted, tragic and painful.
In separate statements, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), some 501 teachers of Dhaka University, ASM Abdur Rab, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samity, Peshajibi Nari Samaj and Bangladesh T&T Sramik Karmachari Union deeply condoled the demise of Army officials in the Peelkhana massacre.
Sammilito Sangskritik Jote will organise a civic condolence meeting at the Central Shaheed Minar in the afternoon today to pay homage to those killed in the Peelkhana carnage of Wednesday while Gano Forum will also pay tributes to those killed by holding a discussion meeting at its central office at Arambagh in the afternoon today.
BSS from Chittagong adds: The three-day national mourning is being observed in port city Chittagong to pay respect to the army officers killed in BDR mutiny at its headquarters in Dhaka.
National flag was kept at half-mast at all government, semi- government and autonomous offices, private buildings, educational institutions and offices of different professional organisations for the second consecutive day yesterday.
Different organisations held condolence meetings and special prayers in all educational institutions today where the discussants are strongly condemning the brutal killings and demanding exemplary punishment to the killers.
They also expressed deep shocks at the demise of the brilliant army officers and sympathy for the members of the bereaved families.
Awami League and its student wing Bangladesh Chhatra league organised separate mourning meetings at their respective offices in the port city yesterday.
Besides, the teachers, students and the employees including the VC Prof Dr Abu Yousuf Alam and Pro VC Prof Dr M Alauddin conveyed deep shock to the bereaved souls.
Chittagong city AL will organise a Zanaza for the departed souls of army officials at historic Laldigi Maidan at 4 pm tomorrow.
The Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), district administration and different other socio-cultural organisations observed the first day of the national mourning days vehemently condemning the killing of scores of army officers in a BDR rebellion at BDR Headquarters in Dhaka.
The day's programs include hoisting national flags at half- mast atop all public and private buildings, milad mahfil, quaran khawni, mourning rally and discussion meeting.
RCC and District Administration jointly arranged a civic mourning meeting at RCC Green Plaza here this afternoon.
With RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair, Deputy Commissioner Shefaul Karim, former mayors Mijanur Rahman Minu and Durul Huda, panel mayor Shariful Islam Babu and journalist Akbarul Hassan Millat addressed the meeting.
Speakers expressed their deep shock at the deaths and sought divine blessings for the departed souls and conveyed sympathy to the members of the departed souls. They also called for an exemplary punishment to those responsible for the barbaric incident so that none could dare committing such kind of incident in the country in future.
They said, "Those who committed such barbaric and brutal acts must be brought to justice".
Terming the incident as irreparable loss to the nation as well as the armed forces, the speakers urged upon all quarters including the media and the main opposition party BNP to play responsible role to overcome the national crisis.
Local unit of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote (SSJ) stated a one- hour human chain at Saheb Bazar Zero point area in the afternoon. City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, SSJ Secretary Dr Shafiqul Alam, Journalist Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam and Awami League leader Advocate Abdus Samad addressed the occasion, among others.
Bangladesh Chhatra League also brought out a mourning procession at the area.
A report from Khulna says, the 2nd day of the 'National Mourning' was observed here as elsewhere in the country to pay respect to the army officials, who were killed in the Wednesday's BRD rebellion at its Pilkhana headquarters in Dhaka.
National flag was hoisted at half-mast atop all political party offices, government offices, all educational institutions and Khulna Press Club.
People wearing black badges joined special prayers and prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed souls.
Awami League leaders and local Ward Councilor visited the residence of slain Colonel Moshiur Rahman Khokan at Taltala in the city this morning.
They expressed deep shock at his death and consoled the family members. They prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.
City unit of Awami league organised a milad and doa mahfi at its office today.
A condolence meeting organised by Nagarik Forum of Khulna will be held at Khulna Press Club tomorrow.
