PM meets families of soldiers killed in Hathazari training blast, announces support

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday met the families of two soldiers killed in an explosion during a tank-firing exercise at the Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram and pledged continued government and Army support for them.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, where Tarique expressed condolences to the families and handed them cheques for financial assistance.

The prime minister said the soldiers had lost their lives while carrying out their duties for the country and that their sacrifice would be remembered with respect.

“The government stands by you at this time of grief and will continue to do so in the future,” he told the families, assuring them that both the government and the Army would provide necessary assistance.

The Army will build a house for each of the two families at their permanent addresses. It will also arrange jobs for the soldiers’ wives and provide monthly allowances for their children.

The two soldiers — Soldier (Operator) Abu Bakar Siddique and Soldier (Gunner) Md Tasnim Rifayat — were killed on Sept. 9 when a shell exploded during tank firing at the Hathazari range.

The prime minister’s wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman and senior Army officers attended Tuesday’s meeting.

Siddique’s wife Suraiya Akter Juti, daughter Fatema Siddiqua, father Abdul Wahab and mother Parvin Akter represented his family.

Rifayat’s wife Fahmida Afrin, daughter Rafsa Tasnim Ifra and father Md Asadul Haque were also present.