DHAKA, Feb 21, 2022 (BSS) - The nation today recalled the supreme
sacrifice of the language heroes on this day 70 years back with a call
for recognizing Bangla as one of the UN official languages, marking
the Shaheed Dibos and International Mother Language Day.

   Thousands of people clad in black and white dresses especially
traditional sharees and panjabees, who thronged the Central Shaheed
Minar here since midnight to pay their glowing tributes to the 1952
language martyrs, also demanded for launching the Bangla at
everywhere.

   Considering the prevailing COVID-19 situation and following the
proper hygiene, however, a maximum of five-member delegate from each
organization and a maximum of two persons at the individual level were
allowed to lay wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.

   President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid their
glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement on
the occasion of Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language
Day.

   On behalf of the President and the Prime Minister, their military
secretaries paid the homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed
Minar here at one minute past zero hours while the immortal song on
Amar Ekushey-"Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February"- was being
played on the loudspeaker.

   They military secretaries stood in solemn silence for some time as
a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.

   Later, on behalf of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin
Chaudhury, sergeant-at-arms of the Parliament Secretariat and on
behalf of JS Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, assistant
sergeant-at-arms; on behalf of Chief of Army Staff General SM
Shafiuddin Ahmed, senior army officials, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral
M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul
Hannan placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.

   On behalf of Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, its
Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury paid homage to the language
martyrs placing a wreath at the Shaheed Minar.

   Among other AL leaders, presidium members Nurul Islam Nahid,
Shajahan Khan, and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram, joint
general secretaries Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Information
and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Office Secretary Barrister
Biplab Barua, Forestry and Environmental Affairs Secretary Delwar
Hossain and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan accompanied Matia
Chowdhury during placing of the wreath.

   On behalf of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Rowshan
Ershad, Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu placed a
wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar while on behalf 14-party alliance
AL Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal
(JASHOD) President Hasanul Haq Inu paid homage to the language
martyrs.

   On behalf of Bangladesh Police, Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Dr Benazir Ahmed, Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr
Aktaruzzaman and foreign ambassadors to Bangladesh also paid tribute
to the language martyrs by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed
Minar.

.Different political parties and socio-cultural organizations,
Sector Commanders Forum, war-wounded freedom fighters of the 1971
Liberation War, attorney general, DU teachers' Association,
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, director general of Rapid
Action Battalion (RAB), home ministry and director general of Fire
service and Civil Defence also paid homage to the language martyrs.

  Among the political parties and student organizations Workers Party,
JASOD, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal,
BNP, Samyabadi Dal, Gono Forum, Dhaka city south and north units of
AL, Awami Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Mahila Awami League,
Jubo Mahila League, Gonotantri Party, Bangladesh Chhatra League,
Chhatra Union, Chhatra Front and Chhatra Federation paid homage to the
language martyrs.

   Besides, among the social, professional and cultural organizations
and institutions, Bangla Academy, Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU),
Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Kendriyo
Khelaghar Asar, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote,
Bangabandhu Gobeshona Parishad, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, DU Senate
members and Dhaka University Journalists' Association paid tributes to
the language heroes.

   To mark the day, ruling Awami League (AL) kept the national and
party flags half-mast and hoisted black flags atop at the AL's central
office at Bangabandhu Avenue and Bangabandhu Bhaban and other unit
offices of the party across the country at 6:30 am today. Later, the
party leaders and activists wore black badges at 7am while the ruling
party brought out a Provat Feri (morning procession) in the city.

  At first, the procession joined by AL leaders and activists went to
Azimpur Graveyard and paid glowing tributes to the language heroes,
including Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabber and Shafiur, by placing wreath.

   Later, the procession ended at the Central Shaheed Minar following
placing another wreath at the altar of the Shaheed Minar.

  AL presidium members Shajahan Khan and Abdur Rahman, joint general
secretaries Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and
AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain and Advocate
Afzal Hossain, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury,
Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Relief and
Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology
Affairs Secretary Md Abdus Sabur, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim
Kumar Ukil, Office Secretary and Prime Minister's special assistant
Barrister Biplab Barua, Deputy Secretary of Publicity and Publication
Aminul Islam and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present on
the occasion, among others.

   Marking the day, the highest security measures were enforced in and
around the Central Shaheed Minar and Dhaka University campus to avoid
any unwanted situation. Key city points and crossings and
intersections were decorated with festoons with inscription of Bangla
letters.

  Earlier, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on
Sunday issued separate messages paying rice tributes to martyrs of the
Language Movement.

  The day is also being observed around the world as the UNESCO
recognised the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
Bangladeshi missions abroad are also observing the day in a befitting
manner.

  On the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his special contribution to the
language movement was projected in various programmes on the Martyrs'
Day and the International Mother Language Day.

  On the day, the national flag kept at half-mast in all educational
institutions, government, semi-government and autonomous offices and
private buildings across the country.

  Besides, offering Fateha, Qurankhwani, Milad Mahfil and special
munajat were offered at Azimpur graveyard in the capital for the
martyrs of the Language Movement while special prayers were arranged
at all places of worships across the country seeking eternal peace of
language martyrs.

  To mark the day, Islamic Foundation (IF) organized Qurankhwani,
discussion, doa and special prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque
here today, seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of martyrs.

  State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan was
present at the programme as the chief guest with IF Director General
Dr Md Mushfiqur Rahman in the chair.

  Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Senior Pesh Imam Mufti Mawlana
Mizanur Rahman conducted the munajat.

  In line with the national programmes, the day was also observed at
all educational institutions, city corporations, pourasabhas, the
district and upazila administrations and Bangladesh missions abroad.
The day was a public holiday.

  To mark the day, the Central Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas on
the Dhaka University campus were decorated with street paintings and
graffiti with Bangla alphabets and selected verses of eminent poets
about the mother languages on the walls.

  Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private radio stations
and television channels aired special programmes while national
dailies published special supplements, highlighting the role of Father
of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Language Movement.

  Mass Communication Department staged mobile musical function on
streets through trucks and on waterways at Dhaka city's surrounding
areas through water vessels and films and documentaries were screened
at district and upazila levels.

  Department of Films and Publications published three types of
posters- one for all, another for the children of schools and colleges
and the last for the Bangladesh missions abroad and the foreign
embassies in Dhaka.

  Besides, children, students, the elderly people and the children
with special needs were allowed to visit the National Museum and its
affiliated branch museums and all the archeological sites and museums
under the Department of Archaeology at free of cost.

  On February 21 in 1952, students and people from all walks of life
under the All-Party Students Action Committee took to the streets in
Dhaka to protest the then Pakistan government's refusal to recognise
Bangla as one of the state languages and imposition of Urdu as the
only official language of Pakistan.

  Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar and some others embraced
martyrdom when police opened fire on the procession in front of the
Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

  The movement for Bangla, however, did not stop and Pakistan
government on February 29, 1956 was compelled to recognise Bangla as
one of the state languages of Pakistan besides Urdu.

  The decision, however, could not stop the movement against
repression and misrule of the then Pakistani government and
subsequently led to the War of Intendance and ultimately the emergence
of independent Bangladesh.