Minister-in-charge of the district and State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon and Nilphamari BNP president and former lawmaker Shahreen Islam Tuhin were present as chief guest and special guest respectively.

The gate was constructed by the district council at a cost of Tk 12 lakh after the design of the Savar National Mausoleum.

Speaking on the occasion, Bagum Rizia Ahamed said it is a memorable day in her life as a freedom fighter has been honoured. She thanked the state minister under whose personal initiative the gate was built.

She also thanked Awami League (AL) lawmaker from Nilphamari Sadar constituency Asaduzzaman Noor for organising the Shaheed Captain Bashar Cricket League to commemorate his supreme sacrifice for the independence of the country.

She called for political harmony and joint efforts by all political parties instead of confrontation to materialise the dreams of the martyred freedom fighters.

Reciprocating her sentiment, Milon said, "Today is the happiest day in my life as my cherished dream has been materialised.

"We will be an ungrateful nation if we fail to show due respect to the martyrs".

He said another memorial will be built beside the gate where names of 19 martyred freedom fighters of the district will be written so that the future generation can know about them.

Milon also said steps would be taken to rehabilitate distressed freedom fighters.

Shahrin Islam Tuhin appreciated the initiative taken by AL lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor in launching the Bashar Memorial Cricket League. Such cooperation should be there in national politics also.

Public Prosecutor Anisul Arefin Chowdhury in his address urged he authorities to develop the area surrounding the Capt Bashar Gate into a recreation spot.

Nilphamari Deputy Comm-issioner Shafi-ul-Alam thanked all involved in building the Gate.

Earlier, before the inauguration, the state minister went to Begum Rizia Ahamed's house at Sabuj Para in the town and brought her to the venue.

The function was also addressed by, among others, Nilphmari Municipality Chairman Dewan Kamal Ahmaed, Shaheed Capt. Bashar's younger brother ZAM Khairuzzaman, former vice-chairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsand Central Command Council Zoynal Abedin, its present convenor Shamsul Islam, Fazlul Haq and principal of Moshiur Rahman College. Nilphamari Zila Parishad executive officer Nazrul Islam. The DC presided.