Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid homage to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar on Wednesday, marking his first official tribute ceremony after taking oath as Bangladesh’s 11th Prime Minister.
Tarique Rahman placed a floral wreath at the altar of the National Memorial at around 11:00am, a day after being sworn in following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election held on 12 February. Later, accompanied by members of his newly formed cabinet, he laid another wreath on behalf of the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister and cabinet members stood in solemn silence in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence in 1971. A contingent drawn from the armed forces presented a state salute, while the bugle sounded the last post.
After the ceremony, Tarique Rahman signed the visitors’ book and planted a Parijat sapling within the National Memorial premises. In his written message, he said the people of Bangladesh had embarked on a new democratic journey following what he described as a free, fair and neutral election.
“As the newly elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh, along with the newly formed Council of Ministers, I pay my humble tribute to the brave martyrs of the great Liberation War of 1971, whose sacrifices made our independent Bangladesh possible,” he wrote.
Tarique Rahman also paid tribute to those who lost their lives in movements to establish democracy throughout the country’s history, referring to struggles from the war of independence to more recent political developments.
He stated that the aspiration of the martyrs was to build a safe, humane, democratic and sovereign Bangladesh, and pledged that his government had begun work towards fulfilling that vision. He concluded by seeking blessings for the successful implementation of programmes announced to the public.
Tarique Rahman, who is also Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, took oath five days after his party secured a decisive mandate in the parliamentary polls. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and secrecy at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday.
The newly formed Council of Ministers comprises 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, formally marking the start of the BNP-led government’s executive term.
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