Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Thousands of people broke the silence of night as they marched towards Shaheed Minars across the country with the clock striking zero hour on Monday to pay glowing tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the mother tongue in 1952.
People in the capital Dhaka started streaming along the roads leading to the Central Shaheed Minar on the Dhaka University campus to place flowers at the altar of the monument after state dignitaries, political leaders, diplomats and representatives of international organizations had first placed wreaths at the place.
The President, Zillur Rahman, first placed a wreath at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar on the campus of Dhaka University a minute past midnight, followed by the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
They stood in solemn silence for some time in respect to the memory of the language heroes.
The leader of opposition in parliament, Khaleda Zia, also the BNP Chairperson, along with party’s standing committee members and lawmakers placed two wreaths — one as leader of opposition and another as the BNP chief. She was followed by the mayor of Dhaka, Sadeque Hossain.
Stringent security measures have been taken in and around the Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion.
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 imposition of 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 on this day to establish Bangla as one of the state languages of the then Pakistan.
The day has since been observed as the Language Martyrs Day, which the UNESCO later declared as the International Mother Language Day.
The Pakistan government was ultimately compelled to include an article in the country’s constitution on February 29, 1956 that declared, “The state languages of Pakistan shall be Urdu and Bengali.”
The Language Movement is indeed the most important turning point in the history of Bangalees as its spirit led to the independence of Bangladesh.
On November 17, 1999, the UNESCO declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. Countries across the globe have been observing the day since then to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education and raise awareness of cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
The Central Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas have had a facelift on the occasion, and roads and medians have been festooned with Bangla alphabets and the national flag.
The day is a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted at half-mast atop all government, autonomous and private buildings.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and satellite TV channels are airing special programs.
BBN/SI/AD-21Feb11-1:10 pm (BST)
