The nation paid homage to the martyrs of the historic 1952 Language Movement on Friday, marking the Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day.
People from all walks of life gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar at midnight with floral wreaths and sang “Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February” in chorus to pay their deepest respects to the heroes of the Language Movement, who sacrificed their lives for the recognition of Bangla as the state language of the then East Pakistan.
On February 21, 1952, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar, Abul Barkat, Abdus Salam and a nine-year-old boy named Ohiullah embraced martyrdom when police opened fire on a protest rally demanding Bangla as the state language in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Another Shafiur Rahman died the next day. The protests began against a conspiracy by the then Pakistan leaders to declare Urdu as the only state language.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight, according to the state news agency BSS.
Marking the day, the Shaheed Minar premises have been redecorated with paintings, buntings and Bangla verses upholding the spirit and sacrifice of the Language Movement.
Tight security was ensured at and around the venue to avert any untoward incident.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, leaders of other political parties, teachers, students, diplomats and representatives of various organisations, among others, have paid their homage to the martyrs at the Shaheed Minar.
The day is also observed across the world, as the Unesco recognised February 21 as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. The national flag is hoisted at half-mast at all educational institutions and government, semi-government and autonomous offices.