Karimon Nesa cannot hold back her tears whenever she speaks about her son. Although the loss of her son has made her heartbroken, yet the mother sheds tears in pride as her son had sacrificed his life for the country.

“I am proud of my son,” said Karimon Nesa, mother of Rabiul Karim, assistant commissioner of the Detective Branch of police, who died while on duty during the Gulshan attack on July 1 last year.

Karimon said she never had to worry when her son was alive. “After the death of my husband in 2006, my son took all the responsibilities on his shoulder.”

But the family is now going through hardship due to the irreparable loss. Karimon said she would be happy now if Rabiul's wife gets a job.

“As my son was a student at Jahangirnagar University, the university authorities decided to offer her a job there. She appeared at an interview but we're still in dark,” she said.

Karimon was sharing her agonies with The Daily Star at “Police Memorial Day” held at Police Staff College in the capital's Mirpur yesterday.

For the first time, “Police Memorial Day” was held across the country in remembrance of the law enforcement personnel who were killed in the line of duty during 2015-2016. 128 of such families were honoured yesterday.

Sumi Akhter, wife of constable Julhas Miah, said her husband died on a road accident at the Gulistan intersection on February 9 last year. Sumi, the mother of two, is now working as a security guard at Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbagh.

Though I feel honoured today, but the pension is not adequate to run a family. It would be helpful if we get a ration card,” she said.

In Nilphamari, Asaduzzaman, sub-inspector of Dimla police, was stabbed by miscreants while he tried to stop a truck carrying stolen goods, on Teesta bridge in 2015.

His wife, Tahrima Akhtar Rita, said she felt happy that the district police honoured her husband.

Yesterday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan inaugurated the day centrally at Police Staff College at 10:00am.

Inspector General of Bangladesh Police AKM Shahidul Hoque said, “Their sacrifices made the police proud. We are forever indebted.”

“Now, it is our responsibility to be with their families,” he added.

From now on, the day will be observed on March 1 countrywide.

The total number of police personnel who laid their lives while on duty in the last 25 years was 1,139.