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GV Memorial construction
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SV & GV People arriving at memorial, carrying and laying wreaths and flowers (7 shots)
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SCU Mother of one of the dead paying respects in front of memorial (2 shots)
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GV & SV More people arriving to lay wreaths
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Initials BB/1805



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Bangladesh on Tuesday (21 February) police arrested 23 people in Dacca, the capital, during celebrations marking the Martyrs' Day language riots.

SYNOPSIS: This Dacca monument marks the spot where demonstrators were killed by police in 1952.

They were part of a procession demanding that Bengali should become one of the official languages of what was then East Pakistan. Now the place where some died after police shooting is the focal point of annual ceremonies held in their honour. It is known as Shaheed Minar and on Tuesday thousands of people gathered there to pay their respects. Hundreds of wreaths were laid. The day is a public holiday.

The mother of one of the student martyrs paid her respects.

During the day's ceremonies police arrested 23 people who were apparently carrying anti-government slogans. It is now five months since the attempted coup in Bangladesh with life returning to normal under strict controls. The three year old military regime of President Ziaur Rahman has since restated there will be general elections in December this year.