The gate is being built in memory of veteran freedom fighter Captain R A M Khairul Bashar (popularly known as Capt Bashar), who laid down his life for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

State Minister for Education and Minister-in- Charge of Nilphamari district A N M Ehsanul Haq Milan announced to construct the memorial gate at an independence day reception accorded to Shaheed Janani Rizia Ahmed and other martyred families by the district Muktijodhdha Sangsad here on March 26 last year. During his speech he also declared to rename the Nilphamari-Saidpur Highway after Shaheed Captain Bashar.

The memorial gate is being built in front of Moshiur Rahman College at the entrance point of the district town on the Nilphamari-Saidpur highway. It is expected that the work would be completed before the Independence Day on March 26 this year.

Two identical wings will be constructed at the entrance of the town town on both sides of the Nilphamari-Saidpur Highway. Each wing will have seven towers. The highest tower will be 23 feet tall standing on a 2.5 feet high base. The gate resembles the National Mausoleum at Savar.

The State Minister told this correspondent that the project work was being delayed due to bureaucratic tangle, but due to his timely intervention its work started, at last. At a meeting of the district law and order co-ordination committee at Nilphamari DC's conference room on December 18 last year the State Minister expressed his dissatisfaction over delay in construction of the gate despite of his approval. At the meeting venue he at once directed the Zilla Parishad chief executive to remove all obstacles and start the work without further delay.

An official of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Nilphamari who supervises its work told this correspondent that more fund would be required for its beautification and longevity.

The Nilphamari district unit convenor of Muktijoddha Sangsad Shamsul Haque Joba has appealed to the State Minister to enhance the budget for the gate's beautification and longevity.

On completion of the gate a long cherished dream of the people of Nilphamari would be fulfilled because after 32 years of independence they showed due honour at least to a golden son of the soil.