Amar Ekushey observed
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB) - The Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day was observed on Tuesday with a call for making Bangla a UN official language.
The indebted nation paid homage to the Language Movement martyrs who had made the supreme sacrifice for the mother tongue in 1952.
Walking barefoot to the Central Shaheed Minars with wreaths and flowers singing ‘Amar bhaiyer rokte rangano Ekushey February’, people from all walks of life paid their glowing tributes to the heroes of the Language Movement, who sacrificed their lives for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of erstwhile Pakistan.
President Zillur Rahman led the nation in paying tributes to the Language Movement martyrs by placing wreaths at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar at 00:01 am Tuesday.
The President was followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The premier along with her cabinet members, advisers, lawmakers and party leaders placed wreaths on behalf of the ruling Awami League.
Both the President and the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of respect to the martyred language movement heroes.
Later, Hasina, along with her cabinet members, advisers and party MPs placed another wreath on behalf of the ruling Awami League. Deputy speaker Shawkat Ali placed wreaths on behalf of the Speaker. The chief whip was also with him.
Opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also placed wreath at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar paying homage to the martyrs of the Language Movement. Khaleda Zia along with her party’s senior leaders arrived at the Central Shaheed Minar at 0020 hrs and placed the wreaths as the Leader of the Opposition and the BNP chief.
The chiefs of the three services, the attorney-general, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the UN organizations, and Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique also placed wreaths.
Besides, different political parties and their front organisations and various socio-cultural organizations also placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar paying their homage to the language martyrs.
On February 21, 1952, students and the common people in Dhaka took to the streets in protest against the then government's denial of Bangla as the national language and imposition of Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil were killed in police firing on this day in 1952 when students moved out in a procession from the Dhaka University campus breaching section 144 to press home their demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language of then Pakistan.
The Pakistan government was ultimately compelled to incorporate an article in the constitution on February 29 in 1956 that declared “the state language of Pakistan shall be Urdu and Bengali.”
The protest sparked on February 21 in 1952 progressed into the long-drawn struggle that eventually led to the birth of independent Bangladesh in 1971.
On November 17 in 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. Since then, countries across the globe observe the day to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education, and raise awareness about cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
The day was a public holiday. The national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop government, autonomous and private buildings.
The indebted nation paid homage to the Language Movement martyrs who had made the supreme sacrifice for the mother tongue in 1952.
Walking barefoot to the Central Shaheed Minars with wreaths and flowers singing ‘Amar bhaiyer rokte rangano Ekushey February’, people from all walks of life paid their glowing tributes to the heroes of the Language Movement, who sacrificed their lives for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of erstwhile Pakistan.
President Zillur Rahman led the nation in paying tributes to the Language Movement martyrs by placing wreaths at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar at 00:01 am Tuesday.
The President was followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The premier along with her cabinet members, advisers, lawmakers and party leaders placed wreaths on behalf of the ruling Awami League.
Both the President and the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of respect to the martyred language movement heroes.
Later, Hasina, along with her cabinet members, advisers and party MPs placed another wreath on behalf of the ruling Awami League. Deputy speaker Shawkat Ali placed wreaths on behalf of the Speaker. The chief whip was also with him.
Opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also placed wreath at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar paying homage to the martyrs of the Language Movement. Khaleda Zia along with her party’s senior leaders arrived at the Central Shaheed Minar at 0020 hrs and placed the wreaths as the Leader of the Opposition and the BNP chief.
The chiefs of the three services, the attorney-general, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the UN organizations, and Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique also placed wreaths.
Besides, different political parties and their front organisations and various socio-cultural organizations also placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar paying their homage to the language martyrs.
On February 21, 1952, students and the common people in Dhaka took to the streets in protest against the then government's denial of Bangla as the national language and imposition of Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil were killed in police firing on this day in 1952 when students moved out in a procession from the Dhaka University campus breaching section 144 to press home their demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language of then Pakistan.
The Pakistan government was ultimately compelled to incorporate an article in the constitution on February 29 in 1956 that declared “the state language of Pakistan shall be Urdu and Bengali.”
The protest sparked on February 21 in 1952 progressed into the long-drawn struggle that eventually led to the birth of independent Bangladesh in 1971.
On November 17 in 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. Since then, countries across the globe observe the day to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education, and raise awareness about cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
The day was a public holiday. The national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop government, autonomous and private buildings.
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