3-day nat'l mourning ends with spl prayers

People from all walks of life light candles in front of BDR Gate-4 near Jigatola yesterday evening in memory of the victims of the carnage in BDR headquarters.Photo: STAR

The three-day national mourning in remembrance of the atrocious killing of BDR officers at their headquarters in Pilkhana ended yesterday.
The national flag was kept half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous and non-government organisation premises for the third consecutive day. Special prayers had been offered at religious gatherings across the country for the salvation of the departed souls.
The government earlier announced the three-day national mourning from Friday. Different political, cultural, social and human rights organisations organised milad mehfils and special prayers at mosques, public gatherings, mourning rallies and discussion meetings at the different places.
Dhaka:
People from all walks of life, cultural activists, teachers, writers and members of the civil society gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday to pay homage to the deceased military personnel.
The gathering organised by Sammilito Sangskritik Jote under the slogan "Shokahoto jaati shonghoto aaj gonotontrer dharai" pledged to keep away from conspiracy against the nation and uphold the spirit of democracy. A one-minute silence had been observed symbolising reverence for the deceased. The gathering represented the sheer grief and condolences to the bereaved families.
Former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal, cultural activist Ramendu Majumder, president of Group Theatre M Hamid, its general secretary Jhuna Chowdhury, Hasan Aref, singer Fakir Alamgir, president of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote Nasiruddin Yusuf Bacchu, and its general secretary Golam Kuddus were present on the occasion.
In his speech Golam Kuddus said the incident at BDR headquarters was planned and was not a spontaneous outburst.
The evening ended with the lighting of hundreds of candles as a symbol of torching all conspiracy with fire. They demanded bringing all the killers to the book.
A gayebana namaz-e-janaza was held at the Supreme Court (SC) yard yesterday afternoon in memory of the army officials and their family members killed in the BDR mayhem.
Judges of the appellate and high court divisions of the SC including Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, SC lawyers, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Additional Attorney General M Enayetur Rahim, and SCBA Secretary Nurul Islam Sujan attended the prayers among others.
The SCBA will arrange a milad mehfil and condolence meeting at its auditorium Tuesday afternoon.
Our Barisal Correspondent reports: Barisal Sangskritik Sangathan Samannaya Parishad organised a public gathering at Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir Road and brought out a condolence rally demanding exemplary punishment of the killers.
Leaders of the organisation called for united efforts of all to overcome this crucial period.
Our Sylhet Corporation reports: Sylhet City Corporation arranged a doa mehfil. Mayor, divisional commissioner, metropolitan police commissioner and other officials of the administration, Rab, police and others joined the programme.
Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, Sylhet subsection also arranged a milad and doa mehfil at the Osmani Medical College mosque after the Zohr prayers. District and city units of BNP organised a milad mehfil after Asr prayers at the adjoining mosque of the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA).
Meanwhile, city and district Awami League and Khelafat Majlish organised separate milad mehfils for the salvation of the departed souls.