Bangladesh: National Martyr's Memorial


Perhaps there is nowhere more exotic than Bangladesh that this blog will feature or had featured, and probably none of the blogs that I follow or read will feature. Because let's face it Bangladesh is not in any one's bucket list. It is a beautiful country and the people are warm and friendly. However, in my opinion it is not ready to receive tourists just yet. The natural resources are available for exploration, but the infrastructures are not.

I'm the lucky one I'd say, I married a Bangladeshi. And because of that I got to visit this interesting place on the map.

This begins my documentation of my 3-week vacation from last August.

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The National Martyr's Memorial (Jatiyo Smriti Soudho in Bangla/Bengali)is built in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which brought the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule. It is located in Savar, about 35 km from the capital city of Dhaka.

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The Monument tower designed by Arch Syed Mainul Hussain is composed of seven isosceles triangular planes, each varying in size in its height and base. The planes are folded at the middle and placed one after another. The highest point of the structure reaches 150 feet. Several mass-graves and a pool of water body are placed in front of the monument.

Monument complex is spread over an area of 34 hectares (84 acres) wrapped around by a green belt of 10 hectares (24.7 acre). Concrete is used for the monument tower while red bricks is used for other structures and pavements. Water pool and the platform for laying wreath are placed in front of the monument while mass-graves are on both sides. From the main gate one can see the monument axially, but to reach there one has to walk through different levels of red pavements and cross a lake - all these representing the struggle for independence. [source]

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Comments

  1. Nice of you to show the other side of Bangladesh, Photo Cache. Please do inform us more about Bangladesh.

    And yes, it's sad to note, because of mainstream media, people tends to equates this country as the poorest of the poor.

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  2. How fortunate you are to visit one of the world's unspoiled places. Once Bangladesh has the infrastructure for tourism it will be all downhill from there. Just sayin'. :))

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  3. I think you were very fortunate to visit Bangladesh while it was unspoiled by the trappings of tourism. The Martyr's Memorial is beautiful.

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  4. Ohhhh, this will be good, Maria, because you're right...who else can show us! Thank you.

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  5. The only time we really hear anything about Bangladesh is when there is a flood, so this is a wonderful treat.
    And I agree with EG - it will be all downhill once the tourists arrive en masse.

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  6. I have little chance of reading blogs from Bangladesh, glad to read about your visit to the beautiful country.

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  7. i know so little about Bangladesh, i didn't know it was under Pakistan's rule before. i like the design of this monument. an impressive monument to remember the martyrs.

    my former office worked with Bangladeshi factories, and our compliance auditors told me stories about this country. syempre, yong kukwento nila yong mas malala pa sa Pinas.:p

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  8. Wonderful monument, beautiful views. Thanks for sharing, Maria.

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  9. Thank you for sharing this informative post and beautiful memorial.

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  10. what a lovely monument and such beautiful views.

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  11. You are right, there is so little about Bangladesh on the blogosphere. I'm glad you posted these beautiful shots.

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  12. Wonderful shots of the structure.

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  13. Glad to see something about Bangladesh! Nice pics.

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  14. Very interesting post and so beautiful photos!Yes,you has right-we know not really much about Bangladesh.Thank you for sharing and have a nice weekend!

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  15. What a fantastic, if relatively unknown, monument! A great post with awesome captures for the day!! Thanks so much for sharing!! Have a great weekend!

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  16. Beautiful memorial and a lovely tour! Your photos are wonderful. Happy Skywatching!

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  17. WOW! My favorite pic is the monument tower with reflections in the water.

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  18. Thank you for this wonderful photographic tour. The shots are stunning.

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  19. An amazing, wonderful insight into Bangladesh! I have poured over the photos slowly! So lovely! especially love the design of the memorial and the views from the patterned steps almost create an optical illusion! Wonderful!

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  20. breautiful compositions on those photos, maria! very nice!!!

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  21. Thank you for the tour. It looks like a very tranquil place. The monument is quite unique.

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  22. What gorgeous shots of this lovely monument. It's eye-catching.

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  23. how fabulous, great fun for bloggers take us on tour with them, the colours in this part of the world are so bright and pretty

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  24. Thank you so much Gemma for sharing this. Everything is just out of this world beautiful.

    I love Asian architecture and have always thought of Bangladesh as being very exotic. I see by your photos that I thought correctly!

    Happy weekend!

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  25. Enjoying your shots. Beautiful place indeed.
    Thanks for dropping by, have a nice weekend :)

    http://www.womenandperspectives.com

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  26. The sky is beautiful, but oh those water reflections are incredible~

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  27. Pretty often when I visit blogs I realize how little I know about the world and I am always happy to learn in this beautiful way. And this post surprised me more than anything! Thank you for my new place to learn about today. (Do your inlaws still live there or other family?)

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  28. I should have added that it looks like a beautiful place!

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  29. nice entry about our second home :-) there are lots of blogs re bangladesh but mostly are from the eyes of an expats...

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  30. so this is what Bangladesh looks like. Like what they have said, more photos pa :)

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  31. OOOHHHH. ang ganda. sana makapasyal din ako riyan.

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  32. Very seldom do I hear people talking about Bangladesh as a destination.

    Worked with plenty of Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia before - I admire them for being honest & hard-working.

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  33. So thanks for these tour too, you showed the best shots of Bangladesh. I guess the picture left in our minds will be different if you put in here the other real more common scenes. And now my old question in my mind about you is just answered, LOL. thanks.

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