The nation is observing the 'Shaheed Dibash' (Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day today (21 February) with due respect.
People from all walks of life pay glowing tributes to the memories of language movement martyrs, the valiant sons of the soil who fought and died on February 21 in 1952 to make mother tongue Bangla a state language.
The day is also being observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the ‘February 21 (Ekushey February)’ as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
The government has taken extensive programmes to mark the ‘Shaheed Dibash’ and the International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement.
The President paid the homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight tonight.
After him, the Prime Minister paid the homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Both the president and the premier earlier issued separate messages paying rich tributes to those who embraced martyrdom.
The day is a public holiday.
In observance of the day, the Central Shaheed Minar premises has been decorated with paintings, graffiti, buntings and selected verses on the mother language.
Tight security measures have been enforced around the main altar of the Shaheed Minar, its adjoining areas and Azimpur graveyard of the language martyrs.
Different political-social-cultural-professional organizations, including the ruling Awami League, have taken various programmes such as seminars and cultural functions, to observe the Amar (immortal) Ekushey in a befitting manner.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry has drawn up an elaborate programme to observe the day at national level.
The national flags have been kept half-mast in a proper manner having accurate size at all the buildings of government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations and educational institutions.
In line with the national programmes, all educational institutions, local government bodies, district and upazila administrations, Bangladesh missions abroad have taken proper measures to observe the day.
Other programmes include wearing black badges and later bringing out Provat Feri from south gate of New Market as a mark of profound respect to the Language Movement martyrs.
Besides, a discussion will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 3:30pm on February 22 to mark the day.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion.
Party's General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged all leaders and workers of the party, associate and like-minded bodies to observe the day in a befitting manner.
On this day in 1952, students and people from all strata of society took to the streets in Dhaka to protest the then Pakistan government’s refusal to recognize Bangla as one of the state languages and its attempt to impose Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Shafiur, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as a state language of the then Pakistan.
The Language Movement is indeed the most important turning point in the history of Bangalee as its spirit led to the Independence of Bangladesh through a bloody nine-month war in 1971.
BDST: 0019 HRS, FEB 21, 2023
MSK/SMS
