Armed Forces Division organized tributes, special prayers and discussion meeting on the occasion of National Martyred Army Day at Pilkhana Headquarters, Banani Army Graveyard and RAOWA club in Mohakhali on Tuesday (Feb 25).
The Armed Forces Division (AFD) on Tuesday (Feb 25) observed the ‘National Martyred Army Day’ commemorating the 2009 Pilkhana carnage that left 74 people killed including 57 brilliant army officers of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), now rebranded as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The day was observed for the first time with due honour amid holding different programs, including paying tribute to the martyred army officers, offering special prayers and holding discussions at Pilkhana Headquarters, Banani Army Graveyard and RAOWA club in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
Marking the day, the flags of the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Forces were kept half-mast to show due respect to the departed souls of martyred army officers, according to a release of the Directorate of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
In the morning, the Army chief, the Navy chief and the Air chief paid profound tributes to the martyred army officers by placing wreaths from their respective forces at the Banani Military Graveyard. They observed one-minute silence there and offered Fateha seeking eternal peace of the departed souls. Besides, tributes were also paid by their respective family members.
As part of the day’s program, the Chief Adviser of the interim government and chiefs of three services have issued separate messages on the occasion.
Special prayers were also arranged at the mosques at all cantonments, naval bases and air force bases on the occasion.
In memory of the army officers, who embraced martyrdom at Pilkhana, a discussion was held at the Retired Armed Forces Officers' Welfare Association (RAOWA) Club’s Helmet Hall.
Families of the martyrs, retired officers and families as well as the heads of the Bangladesh Army and Navy, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division and high-ranking military officials were present, the ISPR added.
