DHAKA, Dec 15, 2021 (BSS) - The visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind 
today paid glowing tributes to the memory of the martyrs of the 1971 
Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar, outskirts of the capital.

  Kovind reached the National Memorial boarding on a helicopter at about 
12:25 pm and paid homage to the national heroes by placing a wreath there. 

  On his arrival there, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, 
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, State Minister for Housing 
and Public Works Sharif Ahmed and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 9 
Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army Major General Shaheenul Haque and high 
civil and military officials welcomed the Indian president.

  A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air 
Force gave him a guard of honour while the bugles played the last post.

  The Indian President planted a sapling of "Ashok Tree" on the memorial 
premises and signed the visitors' book on the occasion.

  "I am honored to be at Jatiya Smriti Shoudho, which stands as a symbol of 
valour and conviction of the people of Bangladesh against tyranny and 
oppression," Kovind wrote in the visitors' book. 

 On the fiftieth anniversary of Bangladesh Liberation War, he said, "I pay 
humble homage to those who contributed to the independence of this proud 
nation, especially to the leadership of Bangladesh, the spirited resistance 
of the Muktibahini, the determination of valiant freedom fighters and the 
millions of martyrs both men and women, who refused to be subjugated to a 
dictatorial regime".

  May the spirit of those who sacrificed their lives to realise the ideals of 
the Liberation War continue to guide "our thoughts and actions", the Indian 
President wrote.

  Kovind left the National Memorial around 12:50 pm for Bangabandhu Sheikh 
Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in the capital's Dhanmondi no. 32 to pay 
tributes to the country's founding Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh 
Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all times. 

   Strict security measures were taken at the memorial and its adjacent areas 
ahead of his visit there.

  Earlier, he arrived in the capital this morning on a three-day official 
visit to join the grand celebrations of the golden jubilee of the country's 
independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu 
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

  A special Indian Airlines flight carrying Kovind and his entourage members 
landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport (HISA) here at 11:10 am 
(BST). 

  President M Abdul Hamid along with his wife Rashida Khanam received his 
Indian counterpart with a bouquet at the airport. 

   In his maiden tour to Dhaka, Kovind is being accompanied by Indian first 
lady Shrimati Savita Kovind and their daughter Swathi Covind, India's 
education minister and two parliament members alongside several senior 
officials.

  The 14th Indian president is the only foreign dignitary participating in 
the event of December 16 here at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart 
Abdul Hamid to represent India at the celebrations as a guest of honour.

  This is the first foreign visit of Kovind since the Covid-19 onset.