A special flight of Biman Bangladesh is scheduled to reach Zia International Airport at 10:15pm today carrying a special coffin containing Matiur's remains. A six-member team of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs went to Pakistan to bring back the remains.
At the airport, Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will receive the remains of the martyr with the highest state honour.
Milly Rahman, widow of Matiur Rahman, and Tuhin Matiur Haider, their daughter will be present at the airport at that time.
"Finally he is coming back to the soil of the country. This is very important as he sacrificed his life for this soil," Milly Rahman told The Daily Star in a voice choked with emotion. "This is a very important event for us and hard to believe that it is happening at last," she added.
Sources working with the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs said all the three wings of the defence forces, the Army, the Navy and the Air force have taken their preparation to pay homage to the national hero.
Namaz-e-Janaza of Matiur Rahaman and a special prayer will be held at the National Parade Square tomorrow at 10:00am. The coffin will be kept at the parade square for people from all walks of life to show their respect to him.
Afterwards the remains will be buried at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur with state honour.
On August 20, 1971 Matiur Rahman attempted to pilot a T-33 trainer aircraft from Karachi, Pakistan to India in an effort to defect from the Pakistan Air Force and join the liberation war of Bangladesh. He couldn't complete his desired mission, as the other pilot on the aircraft, Rashid Minhas, forced the plane to crash.
For his attempt, Matiur Rahman was awarded the title Bir Sreshtho, the highest honour given by the Bangladesh government. An air base in Jessore is also named after him.
Source: The Daily Star
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