Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for spreading the spirit of the Language Movement among the new generation to face the enemies of independence and “Ekushey”.
“Those who deny the spirit of the Language Movement and four pillars of (our) independence are enemies of Ekushey and independence. To face them, the spirit of Ekushey will have to be spread among the new generation,” Hasina said while presenting the Ekushey Padak 2014 awards at the Osmani Memorial Hall in the capital yesterday.
“That is why the practice of Bangla language and literature will have to reach every sphere of the society, and through that, we will build Shonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” the prime minister said.
Fifteen people, distinguished for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields, received this year’s Ekushey Padak, one of the highest civilian awards of the country commemorating the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement. The award comprises a gold medal, Tk1 lakh and a citation.
The award recipients include Shamsul Huda and late Badrul Alam for Language Movement, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Ramkanai Das, late SM Solaiman and Keramat Mawla for arts, Golam Sarwar for journalism, Enamul Haque for research, Anupam Sen for education, Jamil Chowdhury, Belal Chowdhury, Rashid Haider, Biprodash Borua and late Abdus Shakur for language and literature and Professor Emeritus Mujibur Rahman for social services.
Hasina called upon the country’s writers and litterateurs to come forward to conduct research on the languages and literature of ethnic communities, along with the Bangla language, alphabets and literature.
The PM said the “Bangali” nation was continuing the struggle to uphold its ideology and the spirit of the Liberation War.
“The struggle is still on and it will have to continue,” she said.
Terming “Ekush” (February 21) as the source of pride and spirit of the Bangali nation, Hasina said it was the name of the country’s self-determination and immortal spirit that could never be defeated.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the function, while Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan conducted it. Cultural Affairs Secretary Ranjit Kumar Biswas delivered the welcome address and read out the citations of the award recipients.
