The nine Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers killed in Congo were on Tuesday laid to eternal rest in their respective family graveyards after the dead warriors were given a sendoff in tears at state funerals in the capital earlier in the day, reports UNB.

Namaz-e-Janaza for them was held Tuesday morning at the Army Stadium in Dhaka, before their bodies were sent home.

President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Prof Iajuddin Ahmed attended the funerals, in presence of relations of the martyrs, political leaders and top military officials and personnel.

Cabinet members, including Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, also attended the funerals.

Awami League leaders, including Tofail Ahmed and Col (retd) Faruk Khan MP, Jatiya Party Chairman and ex-army chief Hussein Muhammad Ershad, Krishak Sramik Janata League leader Bangabir Qader Siddiqui and former chiefs of Army Lt Gen (Retd) Atiq and Lt Gen (Retd) Nooruddin Khan were also present.

Army Chief Lt General Hasan Mashud Chowdhury, Navy Chief Rear Admiral M Hasan Ali Khan, Air Force Chief Air Vice-Marshal Fakhrul Azam, Defence Secretary Mesbahuddin Ahmed and PSO of Armed Forces Division Major General Mostafa Reza Noor were among others present.

As the mortal remains of the UN peace missionaries lay in state before the funeral prayers, the President placed floral wreaths on the nine coffins showing them his last respects.

The chiefs of the three services also laid wreaths on the coffins—draped in UN and national flags.

President Prof Iajuddin later met their relatives and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family members.

The bodies were flown and some taken by road to their respective homes for burial with state honours after the Namaz-e-janaza.

Of them, Captain Shahid Ashraf Khan was buried at Birkedar village in Kahalu of Bogra district, Warrant Officer M Sohrab Hossain Talukdar at Dhulighat in Netrakona, Sergeant Sirajul Islam at Chandpur in Mehendiganj Upazila of Barisal, Corporal M Atoar Rahman Sarkar at Nimdaser Bita in Polashbari Upazila of Gaibandha, Leading Seaman Nurul Islam at Laxminarayanpur village of Rajbari and sepoys Abdus Salam at Araji Choraikhola village in Nilphamari, Abdus Salam (II) at Mouchak in Gazipur, Mohammad Zahirul Islam at Masimpur village in Shibganj of Bogra and Mohammad Bellal Hossain at Ostodron village in Senbag of Noakhali.

Meanwhile, the national flag was lowered half-mast on Tuesday as the government declared it National Mourning Day to mourn the deaths of the nine members of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The Bangladesh military men were killed in an ambush by gunmen on UN forces during patrol in northeastern Congo on Friday.

A plane flying UN flag flew in here on Monday night carrying the nine bodies, which were kept in freezer vans at the Army Stadium overnight.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, chiefs of the three services and senior military officers had received the bodies at the Zia International Airport and placed wreaths on the nine coffins.