Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War on Wednesday, a day after taking oath and forming the government following a massive victory in the 13th national election. Tarique, as the Prime Minister, first paid tribute to the martyrs by placing a wreath at the altar of the National Memorial at Savar, on the outskirts of capital Dhaka, around 11am. Flanked by his new cabinet colleagues, he also placed another wreath at the altar of the memorial. After laying the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for the independence of Bangladesh.
According to United News of Bangladesh, a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the three services gave a state salute, while a bugle played the last post on the occasion. Later, the Prime Minister signed the visitors’ book kept on the memorial premises. The newly elected Prime Minister also planted a ‘Parijat’ sapling on the memorial premises after placing the wreaths. Tarique took oath as the 11th Prime Minister of the country as his party secured a landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12, winning 209 parliamentary seats out of 297. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and his new ministers at the South Plaza of Parliament on Tuesday. Apart from Tarique, the new government includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with a strong presence of new faces.
On his first working day, the Prime Minister is expected to pay tribute at the Savar Memorial in the morning and later chair the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed government at the Secretariat in the afternoon. Additionally, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet senior administrative officials (secretaries) on the same day.