Honouring 8 martyrs

British Council yesterday unveiled a memorial on its premises in the capital in honour of eight Bangladeshi police guards who died protecting it in 1971.

The council in London had recently found out about the eight policemen from old documents in its archive and research cell, Barbara Wickham, director of the council in Bangladesh, said at a press conference at her office.

She, however, could not provide any details about the policemen.

“We just came to know that such an incident had taken place,” she said.

“Through the unveiling of this memorial, we wish to express sincere gratitude to the eight brave guards who gave their lives to protect the British Council in March 1971,” she added.

Nahin Idris, head of arts at British Council in Dhaka told The Daily Star that they already had contacted Bangladesh police to know the identities of the eight.

British Council Chief Executive Sir Ciaran Devane, South Asia Regional Director, Mark Stephans and Barbara unveiled the memorial designed by Shehzad Chowhury.

“This memorial is dedicated to the eight police guards who lost their lives protecting the British Council," reads a plaque before the memorial.