March from Shaheed Minar to Martyrs’ Memorial to honour sacrifice of freedom fighters

A group of people are marching from Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar to the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to commemorate the sacrifice of freedom fighters on the 48th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.

People from various walks of life are taking part in this procession on Tuesday, which was organised in collaboration with the Liberation War Museum.

The group will reach the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar in the evening after travelling 32 kilometres by road and visiting several mass killing grounds and memorials connected with the Mar 25 genocide.

Freedom fighters, students, and members of various voluntary organisations started their journey at 6am on Tuesday morning from the Central Shaheed Minar after singing the national anthem.

Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Hoque, Ornithologist Inam Al Haque, and Everest climber MA Muhit took part in the march.

Actress and Liberation War Museum Trustee Sara Zaker, Bir Uttam Kamal Siddiqui also took part.

The group first visited the mass killing ground of Dhaka University Jagannath Hall. They later took the route from the VC Chattar of Dhaka University to Asad Gate by passing Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall, New Market area, and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house located at Dhanmondi Road 32.

They later rested at the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon where a group of children sang songs from the Liberation War to them.

The march left the museum at 9am and headed to the Jalladkhana killing ground before crossing the Turag River and reaching the Sadullahpur Centennial grounds.

They plan to rest in the Jahangirnagar University area before arriving at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar around sunset.

“Our independent Bangladesh has ended its 48th year and started its 49th,” said Prof Zafar Iqbal before the march set off from the Central Shaheed Minar.

“But the dreams and sacrifice on which Bangladesh was built have yet to be honoured. Now we must overcome the divisions between us and unite as a nation.”

Zafar Iqbal, the son of martyr Faizur Rahman, said it was time for the new generation to take on the responsibility of identifying and addressing the shortcomings in the construction of a ‘golden Bengal’.

Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Hoque said: “Today’s march is to respect the memories of the freedom fighters who sacrificed so much in the Liberation War. This event aims to sow the seeds of Liberation War ideals in the new generation.”

The hiking organisation ‘Obhijatri’ has organised the march every year since 2013. The Liberation War Museum joined it in 2016.