Bangla soldier emerges as national hero

Six months after his death in the bloody BDR mutiny,Subedar Major Nurul Islam has emerged as a national hero in Bangladesh.

Islam,who was allegedly shot dead during February 25-26 by mutineers from the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles when he resisted their move,has now been recognised by the government as a ‘martyr’ and awarded full state honour.

The government came to the decision as Islam had been on official duty when he lost his life,as reported today.

He was yesterday awarded a formal guard of honour and offered floral wreaths at his grave at Char Laksmi village under Ramgati upazila in Laxmipur district,the report said.

Senior BDR officers,including Director General Maj Gen Md Mainul Islam,travelled to his village home at Char Laksmi under Ramgati upazila yesterday and handed over a cheque for Tk 100,000 to the martyr’s family.

Islam’s only son Ashraful Alam Hannan,a third year BBA student,appealed to the government that his family is awarded similar facilities as awarded to families of the other martyrs of the BDR mutiny,it said.

Islam was allegedly shot dead when he tried to resist the mutineers at Pilkhana sometime during February 25-26.