Pope lands in Bangladesh, visits two national landmarks

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov 30, 2017 / 05:21 am

After landing in Bangladesh Thursday afternoon, Pope Francis made visits to two of the country's important landmarks – the National Martyr's Memorial in Savar and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

Arriving at the airport around 3:00 pm local time, Pope Francis was greeted by the President of the Republic of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid. Two children in traditional dress then brought flowers and a jar of earth to the Pope, who blessed them.

Also present at the airport were political and civil authorities, 10 Bangladeshi bishops, a group of faithful and 40 children, who performed traditional dances for Francis.

From there, he traveled to the National Martyr's Memorial in Savar, which is the national monument of Bangladesh. It stands in memory of all those who gave their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which brought independence and separated Bangladesh from Pakistan.

At the memorial the Pope placed a wreath of flowers, and then signed the Book of Honor. He also planted a tree in the memorial's adjoining Garden of Peace.

Afterward, Francis stopped at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dkaha City, which honors former Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated, alongside most of his family, in August 1975.

"Father of the Nation" is an honorific title given to the person instrumental in obtaining a country's independence. The museum, created in 1994, preserves the former home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the place he was killed.

Two of his daughters were away from the country at the time of his assassination, and thus spared. His oldest daughter is Sheikh Hasina, who is a prominent politician and has been prime minister of Bangladesh since January 2009.

Pope Francis was welcomed to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum by some family members of the Father of the Nation. He then placed a flower wreath at the museum, making a silent prayer. He also signed the Book of Honor at the museum.

From there he traveled to the presidential palace for a private visit with Bangladesh's president Abdul Hamid. Afterward he will meet with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps, where he will give a speech.

Pope Francis arrived in Bangladesh at midday Nov. 30. He came from the neighboring country of Burma, also called Myanmar, where he spent three days in meetings with military and government officials and with religious leaders.

He will spend two and a half days in Bangladesh before returning to Rome late on the night of Dec. 2nd.

The population of Bangladesh, almost 156 million, is 90 percent Muslim. Catholics make up just 0.2 percent, at a total of 375,000 in number. In the country there are 12 Catholic bishops and 372 total priests, both religious and diocesan.