DHAKA, The nation today recalled the supreme sacrifice
of the language heroes on this day 69 years back on the occasion of Shaheed
Dibos and International Mother Language Day.
Clad in black and white dresses especially traditional sharees and
panjabees people in thousands thronged the Central Shaheed Minar here since
midnight to pay their glowing tributes to the 1952 language martyrs by
placing wreaths and flowers at the altar of the monument.
Considering the prevailing COVID-19 situation and following the proper
hygiene rules, a maximum of five-member delegate from each organization and a
maximum of 2 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, sergeant-at-arms on behalf of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin
Sharmin Chaudhury, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on behalf of
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and GM Quader on behalf of Leader of the
Opposition in Parliament Begum Rowshan Ershad placed wreaths at the Central
Shaheed Minar.
Among other AL leaders, presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Faruk Khan,
joint secretary and information minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, cultural affairs
secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and deputy
office secretary Sayem Khan accompanied Obaidul Quader during placing of the
wreath.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen,
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor
Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC)
Mayor Md Atiqul Islam also paid rich tributes to the language heroes by
placing separate wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
Cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, parliament members,
chiefs of three services, Inspector General of Police, chief of Rapid Action
Battalion, ambassadors and high commissioners, diplomats of different foreign
missions in Dhaka, chiefs of foreign agencies and organizations, freedom
fighters and high civil and military officials also placed wreathes on the
occasion.
Besides, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka
University Teachers’ Association, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University, Sector Commanders Forum, war-wounded freedom fighters of the 1971
Liberation War, different political parties and socio-cultural organisations
paid their homage.
Later, the Central Shaheed Minar was opened for the masses when thousands of people from all walks of life walked barefoot to it with flowers in hands and humming “Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February” to recall the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes on this day in 1952.
BNP, Workers Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Samyabadi Dal, Gono Forum, Dhaka city south and north units of AL, Gonotantri Party, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Chhatra Union, Chhatra Front and Chhatra Federation were among the political parties and student organizations to pay homage to the language martyrs.
Among the cultural, social and professional bodies and institutions, Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Gobeshona Parishad, Kendriyo Khelaghar Asar, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) and Dhaka University Journalists’ Association paid tributes to the language heroes.
In the morning, ruling Awami League brought out a Provat Feri (morning procession) in the city. At first, the procession joined by AL Joint Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud 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 Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru, Lt. Col. Muhammad Faruk Khan and Abdur Rahman, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Md Abdus Sabur, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present on the occasion, among others.
Stringent 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.
The day is also being observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the February 21 as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999. Bangladeshi missions abroad are also observing the day in a befitting manner.
Earlier, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued separate messages paying rice tributes to martyrs of the Language Movement.
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.
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.
Marking the day, ruling Awami League took elaborate programmes, including
hoisting national and party flags at half-mast and hoisting black flags atop
at the AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office and Bangabandhu Bhaban and
other offices of the AL across the country at 6:30 am today.
Other programmes include wearing of black badges at 7am and later bringing
out Provat Feri from south gate of New Market as a mark of respect to the
Language Movement martyrs.
To mark the day, a discussion will be held at the AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue
central office at 4pm tomorrow. Awami League President and Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion through a videoconferencing from her
official Ganabhaban residence.
Besides, Qurankhwani, Milad Mahfil and special munajat were arranged at
Azimpur graveyard in the capital for the martyrs of the Language Movement.
Offering Fateha and Qurankhwani was held at Azimpur graveyard and special
prayers were arranged at all places of worships across the country seeking
eternal peace of language martyrs.
Islamic Foundation organized Qurankhwani and special prayers at Baitul
Mukarram National Mosque here around 11am seeking eternal peace of the
martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in 1952 for mother tongue.
Director General (DG) of Islamic Foundation Dr Md Mushfiqur Rahman was
present there as the chief guest while Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Senior
Pesh Imam Hafez Muhammad Mizanur Rahman led the doa-munajat, the release
added.
Shishu Academy organized a discussion at its auditorium in the city
marking Shaheed Dibos and International Mother Language Day.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira
addressed the discussion as the chief guest with Bangladesh Shishu Academy
chairperson Lucky Enam in the chair.
Senior Secretary of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry Kazi Rowshan
Akhter was present at the discussion as the special guest while Shishu
Academy Director General Jyoti Lal Kuri delivered welcome address.
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.