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.


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.









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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