ZCZC
BSS-28
AMAR-EKUSHEY-HOMAGE
Amar Ekushey observed with due respect
DHAKA, Feb 21, 2020 (BSS) – The nation today recalled the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes on this day 68 years back on the occasion of Amar Ekushey 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.
President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage to the language heroes as they placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar here at one minute past midnight last night.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Shaheed Minar six minutes before the clock struck 12 midnight while President Abdul Hamid reached three minutes before the zero hour.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together in slow pace as the immortal song on Amar Ekushey–“Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February”– was playing over the loudspeaker.
The President was the first to lay the wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar. Just after the President, the Prime Minister placed the wreath at the Shaheed Minar.
They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.
Ministers, advisers to the prime minister, parliament members, chiefs of the three services, diplomats, senior Awami League leaders, freedom fighters, and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.
Later, Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia and Leader of the Opposing in Parliament Begun Rowshan Ershad placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
On arrival at the Shaheed Minar, the President was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman.
Flanked by cabinet members and senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League later placed another wreath at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of the party.
AL Advisory Council Members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Joint General Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Presidium Members– Matia Chowdhury, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman and Shajahan Khan, AL Joint General Secretary and Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Organizing Secretary Afjal Hossain, Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua were present on the occasion, among others.
The chiefs of the three services and the inspector general of police (IGP) also laid wreaths at the altar of the Shaheed Minar.
Ambassadors and high commissioners, diplomats of different foreign missions in Dhaka, chiefs of foreign agencies and organizations also placed wreaths.
The central 14-party alliance, led by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASOD) President Hasanul Haq Inu and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, placed wreaths at the altar of the Shaheed Minar. Jatiya Party leaders and workers led by its Chairman GM Quader also placed wreaths on the occasion.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon and Panel Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Jamal Mostafa and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Dr Benazir Ahmed paid homage to language martyrs.
Later, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, 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.
Communist Party, BNP, Gono Forum Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Samyabadi Dal, Gonotantri Party, Awami Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Bangladesh Chhatra 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, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association and Senate members, Sector Commanders Forum, Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Gobeshona Parishad, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Kendriyo Khelaghar Asar, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and Dhaka University Journalists’ Association paid tributes to the language heroes.
The day is also being observed in 192 other countries across the world as the International Mother Language Day declared by the UNESCO on November 17, 1999. Bangladeshi missions abroad are also observing the day in a befitting manner.
On February 21 in 1952, students and people from all walks of life under the All-Party Students Action Committee took on 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.
The day was a public holiday.
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 prayers houses across the country seeking eternal peace of language martyrs.
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.
Stringent security measures have been 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.
Public and private television channels and newspapers took measures to publicize consciousness raisings programmes and reports to pronounce names of language martyrs properly, keep significance of the Shaheed Dibas, keep intact the dignity of Shaheed Minar and pay homage at Shaheed Minar in a disciplined manner.
Mass Communication Department staged mobile musical function on streets through trucks and on waterways at Dhaka city’s surrounding areas through water vessels, films and documentaries were screened at district and upazila levels.
Besides, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Kabi Nazrul Institute, National Book Centre, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh National Museum, Department of Archaeology, Department of Public Libraries, International Mother Language Institute, Department of Archives and Library, Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation, Bangladeshi Shishu Academy, Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute, three districts in hill tracts, Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre and other organizations and institutions arranged seminars, discussions, symposiums, poem recitation, drawing and essay competitions.
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.
The ruling Awami League (AL) took a two-day programme that included placing of wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar at one-minute past zero hours, hoisting half-mast the national and party flags at its offices across the country and Bangabandhu Bhaban, wearing black badges and hoisting of black flag in the morning as a mark of respect to the Language Movement martyrs.
To mark the day, a discussion will be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 3pm tomorrow (February 22).
The DU took a series of programmes to observe Amar Ekushey. The programmes included placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar, bringing out Provat Feri (Dawn March) led by DU Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman at 6: 30 am from the foot of Aparajeya Bangla and offering Fateha at Azimpur graveyard.
The university also arranged special prayers for the martyrs at all the masques of the campus, including its Central Mosque Masjidul Jamia after Zohr prayer.
Islamic Foundation held Quran khwani, doa and milad mahfil at Azimpur graveyard mosque in the city at 7 am seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Language Movement martyrs.
Later, another Quran Khwani, doa and Milad Mahfil was held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 11am seeking the country’s peace, progress and prosperity.
BSS/ASG/MKD-SRH/MMA/2020hrs