The nation yesterday observed Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner, paying rich tributes to the language martyrs. People from all walks of life placed floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital and elsewhere in the country, recalling the supreme sacrifice made by the language heroes, who laid down their lives for the mother tongue ‘Bangla’. Various socio-political organisations chalked out different programmes to mark the day in remembrance of the martyrs. The day is observed as a national holiday. The day is also being observed in 192 other countries across the world as International Mother Language Day, declared by the UNESCO on November 17, 1999.
Hundreds thronged the Central Shaheed Minar to pay their tributes to the language martyrs, after placing floral wreaths. President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the language heroes, placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight yesterday.
Later, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia of the Jatiya Sangsad and Leader of the Opposition, Begum Raushan Ershad, placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with senior leaders of her party, also placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar, putting an end to speculation over her attending the function.
Visiting Norwegian foreign minister Børge Brende, the mayors of Dhaka North and South City Corporations and the chiefs of the three services also placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
Later, Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof. AAMS Arefin Siddique and leaders of Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Sector Commanders’ Forum, different political parties and socio-cultural organisations paid their homage. Thousands from all walks of life walked barefoot to the Minar, with flowers in their hands and humming ‘Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February’, to recall the supreme sacrifice made by the language heroes on this day in 1952.
The national flag was kept half-mast in all educational institutions, government, semi-government and autonomous offices and private buildings across the country.
Quran Khwani, Milad Mahfil and special munajat were arranged at Azimpur graveyard in the city for the martyrs of the Language Movement.
In line with the national programmes, the day was also observed by all educational institutions, city corporations, pourasabhas, district and upazila administrations and Bangladesh missions abroad.
Various organisations and institutes, including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Nazrul Institute, Jatiya Grantha Kendra, Islamic Foundation, National Museum, International Mother Language Institute and Shishu Academy observed the day across the country through different programmes.
The programmes include a book fair, discussions, recitations, an essay writing competition and cultural functions. The day was also observed in different districts across the country, including Bogra, Rajshahi and Rajbari, in a befitting manner. In Bogra, different cultural organisations rendered patriotic songs and staged dramas on the occasion. People from all strata placed floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
A discussion was held with Shaheed Khokon Park, where Bogra deputy commissioner Md. Asraf Uddin in the chair. Bogra district freedom fighter and Awami League (AL) president Momotaj Uddin and Bogra superintendent of police Md. Asaduzzaman and other prominent persons were present and addressed the audience.
The speakers said the spirit of Ekushey February should be upheld to create a better atmosphere for future generations. Ekushey February was the launching pad for the Bengali nation’s movements to realise its demands, which resulted in the ultimate victory over the Pakistan Army. “February 21 teaches us not to bow down before any sort of oppression and repression,” they said.
An eight-day-long Ekushey Boi Mela is being held in front of Bogra Khokon Park on the occasion.
The day was observed in Chittagong with glowing tributes to the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952.
Different political parties and socio-cultural, private and government organisations chalked out various programmes to mark the day.
In the early hours, however, two groups of youths engaged in a clash over offerings of flowers at the Chittagong Central Shaheed Minar.
At around 12:30am, the two groups of youths—one under the banner of Mujtijoddha Sangsad Santhan Command and the other Mujtijoddha Sangsad Command of Chittagong city unit—had an altercation, which persisted for several minutes. A chaotic situation prevailed in the Shaheed Minar area among the people who came to offer tributes.
However, policemen on duty and Ansar personnel brought the situation under control within several minutes.
During the altercation with the Sangsad Santhan Command, some lawyers were also humiliated by the Sangsad Santhan Command. Moreover, two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Omar Goni MES College were also caught up in an altercation while offering tributes.
In the early hours, wreaths were offered by the Chittagong Union for Journalists, TV Journalists’ Association, Chittagong City BCL unit, City Juba League unit, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Chittagong Customs Commissioner and other government, autonomous and socio-cultural organisations offered their glowing tributes to the Language Movement martyrs.
In Chapainawabganj, the day’s programmes started with the placing of wreaths of flowers at the foot of the central Shaheed Minar on the premises of the Chapainawabganj municipality at 12:01am. All government and non-government offices and organisations hoisted the national flag at half-mast. The Chapainawabganj district administration arranged essay-writing and handwriting competitions, patriotic songs, recitations of poems, recitations from the Holy Quran and drawing competitions, special prayers, discussion meetings, prize distribution ceremonies and cultural functions on the occasion.