Newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir paid tribute to the martyrs of the War of Liberation by placing a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar at 10:27 am on Saturday.

Following the placement of the wreath, the President observed a period of solemn silence to honor the memory of the fallen martyrs.

A smartly turned-out tri-services contingent representing the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force accorded a guard of honor to the President, after which he signed the official visitors' book on the National Memorial premises.

In the visitors' book, President Mirza Fakhrul recorded: "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."

He continued: "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."

Before departing the National Memorial grounds, the President planted and watered a Magnolia Grandiflora sapling.

Upon his arrival at the memorial earlier in the day, President Mirza Fakhrul was received by State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain.

The ceremony was attended by 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, President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam, and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Savar Cantonment.