People from all walks of life are walking barefoot to the Shaheed Minars, holding flowers, and singing the iconic song “Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulitey Pari?” in remembrance of the martyrs of the Language Movement. These brave souls sacrificed their lives on 21 February 1952 to secure Bangla as the state language.
The day is also observed globally, as UNESCO declared 21 February (Ekushey February) International Mother Language Day on 17 November 1999.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus led the nation in honoring the language heroes at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Friday. The president arrived at the monument at 11:59pm Thursday and laid a wreath at 12:01am on Friday. Prof Yunus arrived at midnight and placed his wreath at 12:12am.
Key figures such as Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, justices, ambassadors, diplomats, and military leaders followed in paying their respects. The ceremony included several dignitaries, such as the Chief Election Commissioner, military chiefs, and other high-ranking officials.
Later, officials from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, National Security Intelligence, and local authorities paid their tributes.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, along with other university bodies, also honored the language martyrs on behalf of the DU community.
Various political parties and student organizations, including the BNP, JCD, Workers Party, and others, also paid their respects. Afterward, the site was opened to the public.
In observance of the day, the Shaheed Minar area was decorated with paintings, graffiti, buntings, and quotes in the mother language, with tight security in place.
Different political, social, cultural, and professional groups organized various events to mark the day. National flags were flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private institutions, as well as educational bodies.
Schools, local governments, district administrations, and Bangladesh missions worldwide took steps to commemorate Amar Ekushey. Media outlets aired special programs, and newspapers published supplements in honor of the day.
The day was observed as a public holiday. On the eve of the event, both the president and chief adviser issued separate messages paying tribute to the language martyrs.
On this day in 1952, students and people from all backgrounds took to the streets in Dhaka to protest the Pakistani government’s refusal to recognize Bangla as a state language, instead pushing for Urdu to be the only official language of Pakistan.
