Eight helicopters carried the bodies of the soldiers to their villages after their namaj-e-janaza at the Army Stadium.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, the supreme commander of the armed forces, attended the janaza. Ministers, chiefs of three services, high military and civil officials and relatives of the deceased and around a hundred civilians attended the janaza held at 8:30am.

The president laid wreaths on the coffins of the slain soldiers, while a team of army personnel saluted them in a mark of respect.

A pall of gloom descended on the army stadium as the relatives of the martyred soldiers were sobbing.

Later the president talked with the family members of the departed peacekeepers and consoled them.

After the bodies were flown to their villages, top army officials of the nearby cantonments received them.

Namaj-e-janaza for the deceased were also held in their areas where relatives of the soldiers, officials of local administration and people of the area attended to pray for the eternal peace of the martyrs and paid rich tributes.

Army task force buried their slain fellows in their family graveyards with military honour presenting gun salutes when bugles played the last post.

The nation observed national mourning day yesterday to pay respect to the martyrs.

The national flag was kept half-mast in all government, semi-government and autonomous establishments as well as private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad.

The government has announced offering special prayers for the slain heroes in mosques across the country on March 4.

Our Bogra correspondent adds: Captain Ashraf Khan Tuhin and private Zahirul Islam were buried with military honour in their villages.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Bogra cantonment Major General Monjurul Alam received the body of Ashraf Khan when it was flown to the deceased's village home at Birkedar in Kahalu upazila at around 11:00am.

Family members, high civil and military officials and hundreds of local people attended his namaj-e-janaja held at Birkedar Government Primary School ground.

After his burial in the family graveyard, GOC Monjurul Alam, Bogra deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Mohamed and local Awami League placed wreaths on his grave.

The body of private Zahirul Islam was buried with military honour in his family graveyard at Masimpur village in Shibganj upazila.

Family members, high military officials and hundreds of villagers were present in the namaj-e-janaja and burial.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reports: Thousands of people thronged the village Neem Daser Vita in Palashbari upazila to pay their last respect to corporal Ataur Rahman Sarker.

Brigadier General Anwar Ibne Noor of 26 Infantry Division in Bogra Commandant received the body after it was flown there in an army helicopter at 12:30pm.

Near and dead ones, relatives and officials of local administration attended the burial ceremony marked by 11 gun salutes.

Our Barisal correspondent reports: The body of sergeant Sirajul Islam was taken to his village home in Mehendiganj upazila at 11:00am in a helicopter and Commander of Jessore Cantonment Lieutenant General A Mubin received the body.

After his namaj-e-janaza on Chandpur High School premises he was buried at the family graveyard. Relatives, officials of local administration and thousands of people attended the janaza.

Earlier, army personnel accorded a guard of honour and presented three gun salutes.

UNB adds: GOC of Comilla Cantonment Brigadier General Manjurul Kader received the body of private M Bellal Hossain when it was flown to his Ostadron village in Senbag upazila at 10:40am.

Family members, officials of district administration and high army officials and thousands of local people paid their tributes to Bellal.

Later, the body was taken to his family graveyard where an army taskforce buried him with military honour presenting 42 gun-salutes when bugle played the last post.

Brigadier General Manjurul Kader, members of district administration and political parties placed wreaths in a show of respect.