Savar, Dec 27 (V7N) — BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the martyrs of the Bangladesh Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar on Friday night. He arrived at the memorial around 10:00 pm to offer his respects.

Originally, Tarique Rahman had planned to lay flowers at the National Memorial before sunset. However, heavy crowds of party leaders and supporters along the Dhaka–Aricha highway delayed his journey by nearly five hours. As a result, BNP leaders performed the tribute on his behalf at 5:06 pm.

According to the BNP media cell, due to protocol requiring floral offerings before sunset, the tribute was performed on Tarique Rahman’s behalf at the scheduled time.

BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said Tarique Rahman had first visited the grave of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman at Zia Udyan before proceeding to the National Memorial. He emphasized that the tribute adhered to proper protocols.

Other prominent BNP leaders present included Dr. Abdul Moin Khan; Amanullah Aman and Lutfuzzaman Babar from the BNP Chairman’s Advisory Council; Khondkar Abu Ashfaq and Advocate Nipun Roy Chowdhury from Dhaka District BNP; Dr. Dewana Mohammad Salauddin, Tamijuddin, Yasin Ferdous Murad, Ayub Khan, Major General (Retd.) Fazle Elahi Akbar, and members of the BNP media cell, including Shairul Kabir Khan.

Tarique Rahman left Gulsan house no. 196 at 2:53 pm on Friday and traveled to Zia Udyan. Along the route, thousands of enthusiastic party supporters lined the roads, waving and greeting him, to which he responded warmly from the vehicle. He performed Fatiha at Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s grave around 4:50 pm, marking his first visit in 19 years. The last visit had been in 2006 after his election as senior joint secretary of the party.

After visiting Zia Udyan, he proceeded to the National Memorial. Following a journey of over four and a half hours, he arrived at the memorial, where he was received with organized ceremonial arrangements and multiple layers of security. Movement in and around the memorial was restricted to ensure safety.

Throughout the day, major roads in Dhaka were adorned with banners and festoons featuring images of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and Tarique Rahman, reflecting public enthusiasm and party support.

END/MRR/SMA/