Bangladesh is observing Language Martyrs’ Day on Saturday, paying homage to the heroes of the 1952 Language Movement whose sacrifices ensured the rightful place of Bangla as the mother tongue. With the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka fully prepared, people from all walks of life are paying tribute to the martyrs across the country and abroad.
The Central Shaheed Minar has been decorated ahead of this year’s Shaheed Day, which is internationally observed as International Mother Language Day.
Final preparations continued through Thursday night as volunteers and authorities worked to ensure the site was ready for the solemn occasion.
People from all walks of life are paying tribute to the memory of the language movement martyrs—the brave sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives in 1952 to secure the rights of Bangla, the mother tongue. Wreath-laying at the Minar began at 12:01am on February 21, and the monument is being covered in flowers offered in love and remembrance. Wearing black badges, mourners are also visiting Azimpur Graveyard to pay respects at the graves of the language heroes.
Historical significance
On February 21, 1952, Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar, and Barkat were killed in a police crackdown in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital while demanding that Bangla be recognized as a state language of then-West Pakistan. Their sacrifice laid the foundation for a broader struggle that ultimately led to independence.
The Pakistani government later recognized Bangla alongside Urdu as a state language on February 29, 1956. However, the movement continued, culminating in the 1971 Liberation War and the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
On November 17, 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day, recognising the global significance of linguistic rights and cultural diversity. The day is now observed worldwide, including by Bangladesh missions abroad.
Decorations at Shaheed Minar
Under tight security, artists completed nine traditional alpana designs across the Shaheed Minar premises on Thursday night. This year’s designs feature white, yellow, pink, and blue—departing from last year’s white, black, and red palette that referenced the July uprising.
Kausar Hasan Togor, convener of the Alpana Committee, said: “This year, as Bangladesh has returned to a sense of normalcy and democratic order, we have gone back to our traditional alpana style.”
The walls surrounding the Minar, traditionally filled with slogans, poetry, and song lyrics, are remaining free of graffiti. Professor Azharul Islam, head of the decoration committee, said murals from the July uprising would be preserved, while separate canvases displaying poetry, songs, and verses related to the Language Movement have been installed.
More than 500 students from Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts took part in the decorations. On Friday morning, they extended the canvases to surrounding streets, painting alpana and motifs from Doel Chattar to the Jagannath Hall intersection.
National observances
February 21 is a public holiday. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has arranged extensive commemorative, cultural, and educational programs nationwide, following an inter-ministerial meeting at Bangla Academy on January 13.
The national flag is flying at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private buildings, including educational institutions. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private broadcasters are airing special Ekushey programs throughout the day, along with guidelines on proper flag display.
The president and prime minister are leading wreath-laying at the Central Shaheed Minar in the early morning, followed by distinguished citizens, foreign diplomats, ministry representatives, and political leaders. Law enforcement agencies are maintaining heightened security for 30 minutes after the heads of state pay tribute. Additional security measures are also in place at Azimpur Graveyard.
Special prayers seeking eternal peace for the language martyrs are being offered at mosques, temples, churches, and other places of worship across the country. Street islands and key points in Dhaka are displaying alphabets representing all of Bangladesh’s ethnic communities, including Bangla.
The Department of Mass Communication is organizing mobile musical concerts on trucks across Dhaka, alongside boat-based cultural programs on the city’s waterways. Mobile film screenings are being held at district and upazila levels. The Bangladesh Shishu Academy is hosting drawing competitions, poetry recitations, and cultural events for children, including special children’s editions of publications.
The Ekushey Book Fair is being held at Bangla Academy with the participation of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the Department of Public Libraries, the Bangladesh National Museum, the National Book Centre, the Kazi Nazrul Institute, and the Islamic Foundation.
The Bangladesh National Museum and its branches, along with all archaeological sites under the Department of Archaeology, are offering free entry to children, students, senior citizens, and persons with special needs. Exhibitions include documentaries, archival materials on the Language Movement, graffiti from the 2024 mass uprising, Bangla handwriting competitions, and seminars.
The Department of Public Libraries is holding writing and drawing competitions, as well as discussions, at public libraries across divisions, districts, and upazilas. All city corporations, municipalities, and local councils are following the national program.
Security and traffic measures
The Shaheed Minar and its surrounding areas are under CCTV surveillance. An announcement stage has been set up at Dhaka University’s Faculty of Law, which also houses a joint control room for police, military personnel, fire service officials, and a first-aid centre.
The traffic division of Ramna Police Station has restricted vehicle movement on several roads, including Bakshi Bazar to Jagannath Hall, Chankharpul to Ramna Chattar crossing, TSC to Shibari, and the vice chancellor’s residence to the sculpture crossing. Pedestrians can move freely from Palashi Mor through Shaheed Minar to Doel Chattar, as well as at the High Court, TSC, and Shahidullah Hall intersections.
Dhaka University program
Dhaka University has enforced campus entry controls from 7pm on Friday. Residents of campus housing have been asked to return to their quarters before that time, while those with emergencies must present security passes and ID cards.
The university is flying the national flag at half-mast and has hoisted black flags at the vice chancellor’s residence and major buildings. Special prayers for the language martyrs are being held after Asr prayers at all campus mosques and places of worship.
At 6:30am, the vice chancellor led a silent procession and Prabhat Feri (dawn march) from Smriti Chirantan Square, passing Udayan School and concluding at the Central Shaheed Minar with a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of those who sacrificed their lives for the Bangla language.
