Nation pays homage to language martyrs today

BSS :
The nation is set to observe the ‘Shaheed Dibash’ (Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day today (Tuesday) with due respect.
People from all walks of life will pay glowing tributes to the memories of the language movement martyrs, the valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifice to establish the rights of the mother tongue, Bangla, in 1952.
The day will also be observed around the world as UNESCO recognized the ‘February 21 (Ekushey February)’ as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
The government has already taken extensive programs to observe the day in a befitting manner.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation to pay respect to language martyrs by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar beside Dhaka Medical College and Hospital at one minute past zero hour.
Both the president and the premier will issue separate messages paying rich tributes to those who embraced martyrdom on the day.
The day is a public holiday.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the eve of the day.

In his message the president said: “The spirit of Amar Ekushey is now the incessant source of inspiration for protecting the own languages and culture of peoples of different languages in the world. But we have to be more diligent in proper practice and preservation of Bengali language and culture. With the blessings of information technology, we are now theinhabitants of a single global village. Therefore, to maintain the pace of advancement with the developed world, our present generation has to attain necessary skills in different languages which are recognized as international communication media.”
“I believe that observing the International Mother Language Day will play a positive role in the development and preservation of our own language as well as in building a sustainable future through multilingual education – this is our expectation,” he said.
“Embracing the spirit of Amar Ekushey, let mutual respect be awakened among the people of different languages and cultures of the world, let a colorful world without discrimination be developed – it is my expectation on Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day,” he added.
In her message the Prime Minister said: “Bengali nationalism was established through the language movement. Following the ideals of Bengali nationalism and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib we have made Bangladesh a role model for development in the world in the last 14 years. We will transform the country into Smart Bangladesh by 2041- building Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Economy, and Smart Society,”
“In addition, we are also implementing Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100. I firmly believe that we will be able to establish the developed, prosperous, and self-esteemed ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as the Father of the Nation dreamed,” she said.
In observance of the day, the Central Shaheed Minar premises has been decorated with paintings, graffiti, buntings and selected verses in the mother language.
Tight security measures have been enforced around the main altar of the Shaheed Minar, its adjoining areas and Azimpur graveyard of the language martyrs.
Different political-social-cultural-professional organizations, including the ruling Awami League, have taken various programs such as seminars and cultural functions, to observe the Amar (immortal) Ekushey in a befitting manner.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry has drawn up an elaborate program to observe the day at national level.
The program was finalized following an inter-ministerial meeting recently with State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.
The national flags will be kept half-mast in a proper manner having accurate size at all the buildings of government, semi-government, autonomous and private organizations and educational institutions.
In line with the national programs, all educational institutions, local government bodies, district and upazila administrations, Bangladesh missions abroad will take proper measures to observe the day.
Fateha and Qurankhwani will be offered at Azimpur graveyard and special prayers will be arranged at all worship places across the country seeking eternal peace for the language martyrs.
Proper measures will be taken to strengthen the security system in and around all the venues, including the Central Shaheed Minar, and Dhaka University campus adjoining areas.
On the occasion, road islands and other important places in the capital will be decorated with festoons inscribed with letters of different languages including Bangla.
Public and private mass media will take necessary measures to carry out awareness programs on pronouncing names of language martyrs properly, protecting significance of the Shaheed Dibash, upholding the dignity of Shaheed Minar and placing wreaths at Shaheed Minar in a disciplined manner.
The newspapers will publish special supplements.
Uninterrupted power and water supply will be ensured around the Central Shaheed Minar and its adjoining areas while required numbers of mobile toilets will be set up in the areas.
Streets will be kept neat and clean and water will be sprayed on streets to control dust. In order to ensure emergency medical services, medical camps will be set up in the Shaheed Minar areas and a sufficient number of ambulances will be kept ready to this end.
Bangladesh missions abroad will organize different programs, including placing wreaths at Shaheed Minar, discussions on Bangabandhu and Language Movement, and book and photo exhibitions where diplomats of different countries and Bangladeshi expatriates will join.
Besides, messages of the president, the prime minister, foreign minister, state minister for foreign affairs and state minister for cultural affairs also will be read out at the missions.
On February 21 in 1952, Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar and Barkat embraced martyrdom in police firing in front of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as they took to the street to intensify the campaign to establish Bangla as the state language of the then Pakistan, sowing the seeds of subsequent movements for the country’s independence.
They were killed as police opened fire on students demonstrating under the All-Party Students Action Committee against conspiracies of Pakistani rulers to declare “Urdu” as the only state language.
The movement for Bangla, however, did not stop and the Pakistan government on February 29, 1956 was compelled to recognize Bangla as one of the state languages besides Urdu.
The decision, however, could not stop the movement against repression and misrule of the Pakistani government that subsequently led the Bangalee to the War of Independence and the emergence of Bangladesh.