The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Liberation War hero Birshreshtha Sipahi Mohammad Hamidur Rahman was finally laid to eternal rest with full state honour at Martyred Intellectual's Graveyard at Mirpur in the city yesterday.

Before the burial, the nation paid last respects to the independence hero, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the nation, as his last remains lay in state at the National Parade Square at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital in the morning.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on behalf of the nation formally received the coffin of the remains of Hamidur Rahman at the Parade Square and placed wreath on the coffin draped in the red and green national flag at about 10:40 am.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed placed wreath on the coffin thereafter, as part of the state ceremonies.

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman paid their last respects to Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman after his remains arrived at the National Parade Square.

Lt General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, and other senior military officials paid their respect to the valiant freedom fighter at that time.

Members of the three services also presented guard of honour. A munajat was offered praying for divine blessing for the departed soul of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman, but the scheduled namaj-e-janaza was not held as he was buried in Ambasa in the Indian state of Tripura after janaza following his death in a battle on the front against the Pakistani occupation forces.

A brief life sketch of the Birshreshtha was read out before the prayer, recalling his life and fight during the 1971 liberation war.

Hamidur Rahman was born at Khorda Khalispur in Moheshpur thana of Jessore district on February 2, 1953.

The valiant freedom fighter, youngest among the seven war heroes posthumously decorated with the highest gallantry award, embraced martyrdom during a battle with the Pakistani occupation forces in a frontier area of Sylhet on October 28 in 1971.

Earlier, a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force gave guard of honour as last respect to the memory of the martyred soldier.

Military bugle played the last post as the President, the Chief Adviser and other dignitaries and people of various professions stood in solemn silence.

A 21-gun salute boomed as the pallbearers with the remains of the Birshreshta entered the parade-square venue at 10:35am. Six army personnel carried the coffin on their shoulders from the vehicle and put it on a podium.

The Speaker, Advisers of the caretaker government, Chiefs of the three services, family members of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman and other Birshreshthas, political leaders, freedom fighters, senior civil and military officials, diplomats, distinguished personalities of different professions, and members of the Armed Forces, among others, were present to pay homage to the valiant war hero.

The ceremonies over, the remains of Hamidur Rahman were kept for 20 minutes at the venue.

On behalf of the family members of seven Birshreshthas, mother of Birshreshtha Abdur Rouf, who is now very old, placed wreath on the coffin of Hamidur's remains.

The Speaker, Deputy Speaker and political leaders, among others, also placed wreaths.

Earlier, at 6:00am, a vehicle of the military police started for Dhaka with the remains of Hamidur Rahman from Comilla Cantonment.

Later, the remains were taken to Dhaka Cantonment in a ceremonial motorcade from Jatrabari and then to the National Parade Square.

From the National Parade Square started the last rides of the hero towards the reserved graveyard for eminent freedom fighters at Mirpur in a motorcade, where the coffin was received by Adviser for Liberation War Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin. Finally, the remains of Hamidur Rahman were reburied there with the highest state honour as well as with proper military honour.

Before the hero's coffin was lowered, another gun salute was conferred upon the celebrated martyr in the ceremonial burial in presence of the three chiefs of staff. Hamidur was buried beside the grave of another Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman, who has recently been buried at Martyred Intellectual's Graveyard.

The remains of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman reached his beloved homeland on Monday from the Indian state of Tripura.

Chief of Nagar Panchayet of Sonamura district of the Indian state of Tripura Shyamol Chakravarti handed over the coffin carrying Hamidur's remains to acting BDR Commander of Comilla sector Lt. Col. Noor-e-Alam and Commander of 33 Rifles Battalion Lt. Col. Abdul Mukim Sarker on Bibirbazar border in Comilla at about 2:19pm.