On this day 52 years ago, students in Dhaka took to the streets in protest at the denial of Bangla as the national language and imposition of Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan. The protest sparked on February 21, 1952 progressed into the long-drawn struggle and eventual birth of Bangladesh.

President Iajuddin Ahmed led the nation in paying tributes to the language martyrs by placing a wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar, the venue for centrepiece February 21 observance, at 12:01am today, followed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who paused in solemn silence.

Next came Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar, Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, foreign envoys and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor SMA Faiz on the leafy campus abuzz with the milling crowd breaking the nighttime silence with the theme song -- amar bhayer rokte rangano Ekushey February.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina laid a wreath at the Shaheed Minar shortly before 12:15am, followed by hundreds of others streaming in to mark the great event.

One hundred and eighty-eight countries across the globe also observe the day as International Mother Language Day, declared by Unesco in recognition of Ekushey February on November 17, 1999 to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education and raise awareness of cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

The recognition came when half of the 6,000 or so languages spoken in the world are under threat.

"The Language Movement inspires us for sustained advancement in our language, literature and culture -- it is the responsibility of us all to keep high its flame to the future generation," the president said in a message.

"The spirit of immortal Ekushey is ... entwined with our national existence. Ekushey paved the way for achieving independent and sovereign Bangladesh. Now it is our responsibility to strengthen this state, bring dignity to it and make this state prosperous," the prime minister said in her message.

Hasina, also Awami League president, said the martyrs "created a new chapter in the history of Bangladesh by shedding their blood for establishing the right to mother language." She asked all to protest repression of humanity and said that would be the best way to pay homage to the martyrs.

Dhaka University, supervising the Ekushey programmes, prohibited display of portraits, posters or banners and processions or rallies in and around the Shaheed Minar to keep the event apolitical.

The day is a public holiday and the national flag will fly at half-mast atop all government, autonomous and private buildings.

The Shaheed Minar and its environs were given a facelift to mark the occasion and roads and medians have been festooned with Bangla alphabet and national flags.

The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), main opposition Awami League, Left Democratic Front, the 11-party alliance and Jatiya Party (Ershad) and their front organisations have laid out special programmes.

The government began a five-day cultural programme to mark Ekushey and International Mother Language Day at the Central Public Library. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will hold a cultural programme at its auditorium today.

Representatives of foreign missions in Dhaka will place wreaths at the Shaheed Minar in the morning.

The book fair at the Bangla Academy looks set to draw the largest crowd today since it was launched on February 7.

Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation holds a weeklong street theatre festival and the National Press Club arranged a cultural programme yesterday.

Pahari Chhatra Parishad, a platform of indigenous students, staged a rally at the Teacher-Student Centre yesterday, demanding primary education in their mother language, and will form a human chain at the same venue today demanding recognition of languages of ethnic communities.

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Mukti Andolon, Bangladesh Tapshili Jati Federation, Bangladesh Sangskritik Sangha, Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Human Rights Review Society, Balyashiksha and Somoy Sangskritik Sangha will arrange special programmes.