A special aircraft of the United Nations carrying the bodies landed at the airport at 9:18pm after around 12 hours' flight from Ugandan capital Kampala.

The family members and relatives of the slain army personnel at the airport burst into tears as the pall-bearers were taking the coffins out of the plane one after another.

The coffins draped in national and UN flags were then lined up on the runway.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia stood in solemn silence while formally receiving the bodies. She showed her last respects to the martyrs placing wreaths on the coffins with due military honour.

A unit of Bangladesh Army's 11 Infantry Regiment saluted the deceased soldiers, amid playing of the last post on bugle.

The PM then talked to the members of the bereaved families and consoled them.

Ministers, chiefs of three services, diplomats and UN officials in Bangladesh were present at the airport.

The airport rituals over, the bodies were taken to Army Stadium in three freezer-vans, UNB said.

This was the second highest casualty of army since independence after the biggest military loss in a single accident in Benin air crash on December 31, 2003.

The government has declared national mourning day to be observed today to pay respect to the martyrs.

The national flag will be kept half-mast in all government, semi-government and autonomous establishments as well as private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad, an official handout said.

The namaj-e-janaza of the deceased will be held at the Army Stadium at 8:30am and the coffins will then be kept open for visitors for some time, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, the supreme commander of the armed forces, will attend the janaza.

Eight army helicopters will carry the bodies of the soldiers to their village homes where they will be buried today with full military honours.

The nine soldiers serving as UN peacekeepers in northeastern Ituri region of Congo, a stronghold of several ethnic and political armed militias, were killed at Bangladesh time 2:15pm Friday in one of the bloodiest attacks on a UN peacekeeping mission in recent years.

Of the nine killed, Captain Shahid Ashraf Khan hailed from Kahalu upazila of Bogra district, Warrant Officer Sohrab Hossain Talukdar from Dhuly Gathy of Netrokona, Sergeant Sirajul Haque from Mehendiganj of Barisal and Corporal Ataur Rahman Sarker from Palashbari of Gaibandha.

Leading Seaman Nurul Islam hailed from Mongla of Bagerhat district, and privates Abdus Salam (1) from Arajee Choraikhola of Nilphamari, Abdus Salam (2) from Charbongkhari of Manikganj, Zahirul Islam from Shibganj of Bogra and Belal Hossain from Astodrone of Noakhali.

Special prayers will be offered for the national heroes at all mosques on March 4.

CONDOLENCES
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has expressed his deepest condolences for the government of Bangladesh and bereaved families of the nine UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh, reports BSS.

Straw also affirmed the United Kingdom's determination to support the United Nations in ensuring that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury conveyed the condolences of British government to Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan.

UNB adds: Awami League President and Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina will pay homage to slain Bangladeshi peacekeepers at the Army Stadium today.