RANGPUR, Feb 21, 2021 (BSS) – The ‘Shaheed Dibash and the International
Mother Language Day-2021’ was observed paying rich tribute to language
movement martyrs in a befitting manner here today as elsewhere across the
country.
Despite taking limited scale programmes in the wake of the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, thousands of enthusiastic people participated in those
with huge emotion to observe the day partially abiding by the health
directives.
In line with the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, observance of the day marked special significance as speakers
in the main discussion discussed the special contribution of Bangabandhu to
the language movement.
Discussants took a fresh pledge to ensure use of Bengali at all levels,
establish the spirit of the War of Liberation and build a prosperous ‘Sonar
Bangla’ as dreamt by Bangabandhu.
Under management of Rangpur City Corporation and the district
administration, the observance began at one minute past midnight with placing
wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city amid tight security
measures.
The Divisional Commissioner, Mayor of Rangpur, Deputy Inspector General
(DIG) for Rangpur Range Police and Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner
first placed wreaths paying homage to the Language Movement Martyrs.
Later, District Council Chairman, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of
Police (SP), Presidents of district and city units Awami League (AL) and its
General Secretaries placed wreaths there.
Local leaders of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, AL and its associate
bodies, BNP, Jatiya Party, JaSoD, CPB, BSD, Workers’ Party, Ganatantry Party,
heads of government departments and professional organisations and common
people placed wreaths.
The divisional, district and police administrations, socio-cultural and
professional organisations, political parties, private bodies and
institutions chalked out programmes to observe the day.
The programmes include hoisting of the national flag at half-mast atop all
government and private buildings and educational institutions and educational
institutions, ‘probhat ferries’ and discussions.
Besides, competitions for children on drawing, essay writing and patriotic
songs were arranged virtually a day ahead on Saturday and special prayers
were offered at places of religious worship today abiding by the health
directives.
The local daily, weekly, online and other newspapers published special
issues and Rangpur Betar Kendra aired special programmes narrating
significance of the day.
Rangpur City Corporation, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur Medical College,
Carmichael College and other educational institutions and professional
organisations observed the day in a befitting manner.
The district administration organised the main discussion on the Central
Shaheed Minar premises where language movement veterans were accorded
reception and prizes distributed among the winners of different competitions.
With Deputy Commissioner Md Asib Ahsan in the chair, Divisional
Commissioner Md Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan and Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman
Mostafa addressed the discussion as chief guest and guest of honour
respectively.
DIG for Rangpur Range Police Devdas Bhattacharya, Rangpur Metropolitan
Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Alim Mahmud, District Council Chairman
Advocate Chhafia Khanom, SP Biplob Kumar Sarker, President of district AL
Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, its General Secretary Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju, city AL
President Shafiur Rahman Shafi and its General Secretary Tushar Kanti Mandal
addressed the discussion, among others.