DHAKA : The newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today paid tribute to the martyrs of the great War of Liberation by placing wreath at the National Memorial in Savar.

The president placed the wreath at the memorial at  10:27 am this morning.

After laying the wreaths, he stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.

Later, the President was accorded a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of three services (Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force). After the ceremony, he also signed a visitors' book kept at the National Memorial premises.

In the visitor's book, the President wrote, "I pay my deepest respect to all the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the great Liberation War by attending the National Memorial. In exchange for their supreme sacrifice, boundless courage and genuine patriotism, we have achieved our beloved motherland - independent and sovereign Bangladesh."

"This sacred National Memorial is an eternal monument of our national pride, sacrifice, unity and patriotism, which will forever inspire patriotism and nation-building."

"I commemorate with deep respect the heroic and independent proclaimers of the great Liberation War, martyr President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, and national leader Begum Khaleda Zia. Their patriotism, leadership and struggle to establish democracy will remain eternal in our national history."

"We will all work together to build a peaceful, just, democratic, welfare-oriented and prosperous Bangladesh by upholding the spirit of the great liberation war, the ideals of the constitution and the dignity of the sacrifice of the brave martyrs - this is our pledge."

“May Almighty Allah grant forgiveness to the souls of the brave martyrs. And shower continued peace, prosperity and welfare on our beloved motherland Bangladesh. Amen. Long live Bangladesh."

In his comments on the visit book, he also wrote, "I pay my deepest respects to all the brave martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the great liberation war by attending the National Memorial.  In exchange for their supreme sacrifice, boundless courage and genuine patriotism, we have achieved our beloved motherland - independent and sovereign Bangladesh."

"This sacred national memorial - an eternal monument of our national pride, sacrifice, unity and patriotism, which will forever inspire patriotism and nation-building."

"I commemorate with deep respect the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the hero and the proclaimer of independence of the great Liberation War, Bir Uttam and the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia.  Their patriotism, leadership and struggle to establish democracy will remain forever in our national history."

"We will all work together to build a peaceful, just, democratic, welfare-oriented and prosperous Bangladesh by upholding the spirit of the Great Liberation War, the ideals of the Constitution and the dignity of the sacrifice of the brave martyrs - this is our pledge."

May the Almighty Allah grant forgiveness to the souls of the brave martyrs. And shower continued peace, prosperity and welfare on our beloved motherland, Bangladesh. Amen. Long live Bangladesh."

Later, the president planted a Magnolia Grandiflora sapling, watered it and left the National Memorial premises.

Earlier on his arrival at the National Martyrs Memorial premises, the President was received by State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain.

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman , Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Khondkar Misbah Ul Azim, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Military Secretary to the President Major General A S M Bahauddin, Public Division Secretary AJM Salahuddin Nagari, Preisident’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam  and Savar Cantonment GOC were present on the occasion.