National Desk Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day was observed in different districts on Friday in a befitting manner paying rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement of 1952.Various political parties , socio-cultural and educational institutions took elobrate programmes to observe the Day. Our Correspondents and agencies report:Gaibandha Correspondent reports: The Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day-2014 was observed in the district on Friday in a befitting manner.In the observance of the Day, the district administration, Awami Legue and other political parties, socio-cultural organizations and educational institutions chalked out a daylong elaborate programme.The day’s programme began through placing wreaths at the Central Saheed Minar located at Gaibandha Poura Park at 12.01am.The programme included hoisting of national flag at half-mast atop all the government, private, commercial buildings and educational institutions, wearing black badge and bringing out mourning procession in the morning.The programme also included screening documentary film on Amar Ekushey arranged by District Information Office and children’s art, hand writing and essay writing competition organized by Bangladesh Shishu Academy.Besides, special prayers were also offered at mosques, temples and the churches seeking the blessing of Almighty Allah for the salvation of the departed souls of the language heroes.In addition, a discussion meeting organized by district administration on the significance of the day was held at Independence Square of the town in the evening. A three-day book fair is being held at the same venue from February 20.Deputy Commissioner (DC) M. Ehsan-E-Elahi addressed the function as the chief guest and vice principal of Sadullapur Degree College Jahurul Qaiyum was the main discussant while additional deputy commissioner (revenue) Kamal Uddin Biswas presided over the ceremony.The DC, in his speech, said the significance of Ekushey February is immense for enriching our national life and has brought international glory for the country through receiving the recognition of the International Mother Language Day.Urging all to maintain the sanctity of the day seriously, he also remembered with due respect the valiant martyrs namely Jabbar, Barkat, Rafique, Shafique and Salam along with other language martyrs who laid down their lives in the Language Movement in 1952.Chapainawabganj Correspondent reports: The International Mother Language Day was observed with paying homage to the language martyrs in Chapainawabganj on Friday.Different political, social and cultural organizations, District Administration took up different programmes like morning processions, offering of flowers at Shahid Minar, discussion meeting and cultural function. Chapainawabganj Shishu Academy arranged essay, hand writing, drawing and recitation competitions of children at Green View School in the town in the morning. Committee of the Concerned Citizens (CCC), Chapainawabganj of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) arranged rally, discussion meeting and cultural function. The discussion meeting was held on the Sadharan Pathagar premises in the afternoon. It was held with the president of the CCC Advocate Saiful Islam Reza in the chair and was addressed by former chief of the planing division of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) Md. Sanaul Haque Pintu, acting chairman of Red Cresent Society, Chapainawabganj Monimuddowla Chowdhury and convener of the day observance committee of the CCC NSM Mahbubur Rahman Mintu. After the discussion a cultural function was also held there.Chapainawabganj district administration also arranged a discussion meeting and a cultural function at Shahid Satu hall in the evening.Balugram Adarsha Degree College arranged a discussion meeting at the auditorium of the college. It was held with the principal of the college Md. Saidur Rahman in the chair. Among others, vice principal NSM Mahbubur Rahman, teachers of the college AKM Rezaul Karim, Shahin Akhtar, Rokeya Khatun and Ashapurna Roy Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.BOU Correspondent says: Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day was observed with due respect and soleminity in Bangladesh Open University (BOU) on Friday.Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain, Treasurer Prof. Dr. Md. Abu Taher and teachers, officers and staffs pay homage to the Language Movement martyrs by placing wreath at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar at Gazipur Campus of BOU. Art competition and self composed poem for school students take place at BOU campus in Gazipur marking the day. A short film is showed at the BOU conference hall observing the day.Dupchanchia Correspondent reports: International Mother Language Day and Amar Ekushey was observed with due respect and soleminity in Dupchanchia on Friday . Upazila Administration organised voarious programmes in a this regards. Government officials, freedom fighters, heads of the educational institutions, professionals, socio-cultural activists, political leaders and eminent citizens including the journalists of print and electronic media took part in the programme. The programmes include placing floral wreaths at the local Shaheed Minar of the poura park and other Shaheed Minars in the district and upazila towns at zero hour on February 21, hoisting of national flag at half mast atop all the government, semi government, private and commercial buildings and all academic institutions. The programmes also include offering of special prayers at the places of worship, holding of discussion meeting, cultural functions, art and essay writing competitions. Dupchanchia press club arranged a crest giving ceremony presided over President Golam Faruq among the member of two deaths journalist Harun and Shopon Kumar when journalist Emdadul Haque, KM Belal, Matiur Rahman Dewan Polah, Moyen Khan, Kobbat Hossain, Ardindu Kumar Dass and Pobon Kumar Agorwala were present. BSS from Rajshahi says: “Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day” was observed in the city and it’s adjacent areas yesterday in befitting manner paying rich tribute to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement of 1952.Various political parties and socio-cultural and volunteer organisations and educational institutions observed the day with a renewed pledge for building a happy, prosperous and non-communal Bangladesh.At the zero hours and since early in the morning, streams of people irrespective of age and sex were seen walking barefoot singing “Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami ki Bhulite Pari” towards the nearby Shaheed Minars especially Rajshahi College and Bhuban Mohan Park to pay their deep respect to the heroes.Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) and the district and police administrations observed the day through elaborate programmes.The programmes include placing wreaths at Shaheed Minar, hoisting national flags at half-mast atop all public and private buildings and probhat ferry, discussion meeting, cultural and literary functions. There were miniature national flags and colored flags inscribed with Bengali alphabets throughout the city streets.Multifarious programmes like Quran Khwani and discussion at the Imam Training Academy, art and literary competitions for school and college students at Shishu Academy and Shilpakala Academy, serving improved diets to the inmates of hospitals, jails, safe homes and baby homes and screening of documentary films on the Language Movement were also organised in the city.Marking the day, Language veterans were accorded reception at City Bhaban Green Plaza in the evening. City mayor Mosaddique Hossain Bulbul was present at the function as the chief guest.BSS from Rangpur reports : The “Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day-2014” was observed though paying rich tributes the Language Movement Martyrs amid huge enthusiasm among the people, especially youngsters, on Friday. The divisional, district and police administrations, socio- cultural and professional organisations, political parties, private bodies, educational institutions and common people observed the day befittingly through elaborate daylong programmes. Observance of the day began at one minute past midnight through placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar by State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga, City Mayor Alhaj Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Dilwar Bakht, Deputy Inspector General of Police Humayun Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Farid Ahammad, Police Super Abdur Razzaque to pay due respects to the Language Movement Martyrs. Later, District Muktijoddha Commander Mosaddek Hossain Bablu, heads of different government departments, NGOs, political leaders, professionals and commoners placed wreaths there. The queue of common people became very long to place wreaths at Central Shaheed Minar to pay homage to Martyrs of the Language Movement as the number of youngsters, students and youths was very high at this time. In the morning, thousands of people of all ages in bare feet brought out a mourning procession singing “Amar Bhayer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulite Pari.” The programmes included hoisting of the National Flag at half-mast atop all government, semi-government, autonomous, private buildings, educational institutions and a weeklong Ekushey Book Fair on the Town Hall premises in the city. Special prayers were offered at Mosques, Mandirs, Churches, Pagodas and other places of religious worships seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls of the Language Movement Martyrs as well as War of Liberation. The local daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, online and others newspapers published special supplementary issues and Rangpur Betar Kendra aired special programmes narrating importance and significance of the day. Colourful cultural functions and various competitions including painting, essay writing, hand writing, rendering patriotic song and sports for the unprivileged children were organised in observance of the day. The district administration arranged the main discussion at the Central Shaheed Minar at night to highlight importance of the day and pay deep homage to the Language Movement Martyrs with Deputy Commissioner Farid Ahammad in the chair.
