The “Amar Ekushey”, also the International Mother Language Day, was observed with solemn regard and due fervour across the country yesterday. With the clock striking 12am, people from all walks of life poured into Central Shaheed Minar in various districts to pay their homage to those who laid down their lives to establish Bangla as a state language on February 21 in 1952.
Our Sylhet correspondent reports: People from all walks of life thronged the Sylhet central Shaheed Minar to pay their respects to language martyrs on the occasion of Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day.
Walking barefoot to the Shaheed Minar with flowers singing ‘Amar bhaiyer rokte rangano Ekushey February’, leaders and activists of different socio-political and cultural organizations paid their respects to language heroes.
Shaheed Minar Bastabayan Parishad first placed wreaths at the altar of the Shaheed Minar at one minute-past zero hour. Then different political parties, their front bodies and socio- cultural organizations, including Sylhet district and city unit of Awami League, Muktijodha Sangsad, district and city unit BNP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, BSD and Ganotantri Party placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
In Chuadanga, the Language Martyrs’ Day and the International Mother Language Day was observed by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in Chuadanga.
Deputy Commissioner Delwar Hossain, district Superintendent of Police (SP) Rashidul Hasan, Chuadanga municipality Mayor Riajul Islam Joarder and various cultural and political organisations paid tribute at the Shaheed Minar at the Chuadanga Govt. College premises. Later a procession was brought out followed by a colourful drawing and handwriting competition among children at the Chuadanga Press Club.
In Comilla, people in Comilla observed the day with a vision to create a secular and democratic Bangladesh.
In the first hour of the day, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Railways Minister Mujibul Haq Mujib, Comilla Sadar MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar, Comilla Deputy Commissioner Hasanuzzaman Kollol, SP Tutul Chakrabarty and various organisations paid tribute to the language martyrs at Central Shaheed Minar at the city’s town hall.
The tribute kept pouring in throughout the day from students, teachers, NGO leaders, cultural organisations and educational institutions.
Jessore correspondent said Deputy Commissioner of the district Dr Humayun Kabir led the tribute procession by placing wreaths at Central Shaheed Minar at 12:01am yesterday. He was followed by Principal of MM College Namita Rani Das, SP Anisur Rahman, Civil Surgeon and district Awami League leaders.
People from all walks of life joined the procession towards the Shaheed Minar to pay their tribute. Later they took an oath to put an end to the on going political violence.
Jhalokati correspondent said the ceremony of the day began right at 12:01am with the placing of wreaths at Central Shaheed Minar of the district.
Deputy Commissioner Mohd Shakhawat Hossain, SP Md Mazid Ali, district Awami League President Sardar Md Shah Alam, General Secretary of Jhalokati Press Club Akkas Sikdar, General Secretary of Reporters’ Unity SM Rezaul Karim and other civil society leaders paid their tributes one after another.
Associate organisations of the Jatiya Party and Awami League also paid their respect.
Kurigram correspondent reports: The day was observed with due fervour in Kurigram. In the first hour of the day, district administration, various political, social, cultural and civic society organisations paid tribute by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
A procession was brought out at 8am which was well attended by a number of people. Besides, blood donation programme, cultural activities and competitions were also organised to mark the day.
The Indian enclaves situated inside Bangladesh also celebrated the day.
Madaripur correspondent said people queued up at the Central Shaheed Minar at Lakeside area of Madaripur to pay their tribute.
Deputy Commissioner GSM Jafarullah, SP Khandkar Faridul Islam, Sadar Upazila Chairman Pavelur Rahman Shafiq Khan and Municipality Mayor Khalid Hossain Yaad placed their wreaths in the early hours.
Naogaon correspondent said the programme kicked off in Naogaon by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Deputy Commissioner Md Enamul Haque, MP of Naogaon Sadar Abdul Malek, SP Md Kaimuzzaman Khan, Civil Surgeon Dr Motahar Hossain Bulbul, family members of language martyr Dr Manzur Hossain and civil society members paid their tributes one by one.
Later, ADM Abdul Bari, president of Ekushey celebration committee, administered a public oath where people prayed for the departed souls of the language martyrs and promised to uphold the spirit of the language movement.
Jamalpur correspondent said State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam was the first person to place the wreath at Central Shaheed Minar followed by district administration, freedom fighters, police, zila
parishad, upazila parishad, political parties, educational institutes, press club and various social and cultural organisations.
Discussion programmes, drawing and handwriting competitions and cultural functions were organised to observe the day in the district town.
In Munshiganj, in the first hour of the day, Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hasan Badal, SP Biplab Bijoy Talukder, District Muktizoddha Commander Anisuzzaman Anis, Zila Parishad Chief Executive Soudagar Mustafizur Rahamn, Administrative Officer Md. Akram Ali, Principals of Govt Haraganga College and Iajuddin Ahmed Model College paid homage to the language movement martyrs by placing wreaths at the district Central Shaheed Minar in Munshiganj.
Besides, Awami League, BNP, Zila Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Munshiganj Press Club and other organizations paid their tributes.
They stood there in silence for a minute in honour of the language heroes. In the morning a good number of people attended the rally.