Long-awaited central Shaheed Minar opens in Rajshahi

Residents of Rajshahi finally have a permanent Central Shaheed Minar, as they laid floral wreaths at the newly constructed monument near the Sonadighi intersection in the city.

At 12:01am on Saturday, marking the first hour of Amar Ekushey, the Rajshahi divisional and district administrations officially opened the monument by placing wreaths.

Previously, residents of Rajshahi paid their respects separately at the Shaheed Minar in Bhuvanmohan Park and at Rajshahi College. For the first time, they were able to lay flowers at the altar of the Shaheed Minar in their own city, generating excitement as the long-awaited monument was opened to the public.

According to the Rajshahi Zila Parishad, the permanent Central Shaheed Minar has been constructed on nearly one acre of land at the old Survey Institute site at Sonadighi intersection. The construction, undertaken by the Zila Parishad at a cost of approximately Tk 7.80 crore, has been completed in the style of the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

City residents said that previously they had to go to Rajshahi College to pay tribute to the martyrs, which often caused inconvenience. With the permanent Shaheed Minar now operational, this problem has been resolved, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the city dwellers.

Rajshahi Zila Parishad Administrator Mohammad Habibur Rahman said the decision to open the Shaheed Minar was taken in observance of Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day. The district administration distributed invitation cards, and the District Information Office carried out extensive publicity through loudspeaker announcements.

He added that instead of holding a formal inauguration ceremony, the monument was opened to the public by placing flowers in the first hour of the day. From now on, everyone will be able to pay tribute in a single location.

Professionals, students, and people from all walks of life in Rajshahi played a significant role during the Language Movement of 1952. The first Shaheed Minar in Rajshahi was constructed in the Muslim students’ dormitory area of Rajshahi College, though it did not receive state recognition for a long time.

Now, about 300 yards from that original site, the permanent Rajshahi Central Shaheed Minar has been built. The newly constructed monument has already attracted the attention of local residents.