Ekushey Forever: Heroes honoured
"Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February Ami Ki Bhulitey Pari…"
The song that epitomises Amar Ekushey not only has a special place in the hearts of Bangalees, it also lifts their spirits.
Humming the tune, thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the Shaheed Minars across the country yesterday to pay homage to the Language Movement heroes.
Bare-footed and holding flowers, they wore black and white to honour the supreme sacrifice.
The Shaheed Minar premises, adorned in different colours, wore a festive look with street paintings and graffiti in Bangla alphabets and selected verses about mother language on the walls.
Programmes across the country -- including discussions and cultural sessions -- reminisced the sacrifices made by Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafique and others.
Since 1999, the day is being observed worldwide after Unesco declared it as International Mother Language Day.
On February 21, 1952, students and people from all walks of life took to the streets in Dhaka to protest the then Pakistan government's refusal to recognise Bangla as one of the state languages and imposition of Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Shafiur, Jabbar and others were killed when police opened fire on their procession.
Yesterday, people gathered at the Shaheed Minars since the early hours to pay homage to the language heroes. The national flag was hoisted at half-mast in all educational institutions and government, semi-government and autonomous offices to show respect to the language martyrs.
In Chattogram, the day was observed in the city and elsewhere with due respect and solemnity.
Different socio-cultural and political organisations, including the district administration, organised various programmes such as discussion, poetry recitation, art competition and cultural function in the city.
Leaders of political parties and organisations along with people from every arena of life gathered at the city's Shaheed Minar to pay their respects. They placed wreaths one after another with due honour.
In the morning, students and socio-cultural organisations, carrying colourful banners, festoons and placards, placed wreaths there as well.
Rangpur also saw its residents paying tributes to our heroes. Thousands of all ages participated in the daylong programmes since midnight.
Local political leaders, heads of different government departments and non-government organisations, educational institutions and common people placed wreaths at the city's Shaheed Minar to pay homage.
City streets were decorated with miniature national flags inscribed with Bengali alphabets.
A poetry festival on the Language Movement, War of Liberation and Bangabandhu; documentary screenings; and competitions for children on drawing, essay-writing and handwriting were arranged.
Besides, local newspapers published special issues and Rangpur Betar Kendra aired special programmes, narrating significance of the day.
Residents, organisations and educational institutions in Rajshahi observed the day with a renewed pledge for building a happy, prosperous and non-communal Bangladesh.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) and the district and police administration organised elaborate programmes on the day.
The programmes include art and literary competitions for students at Shishu Academy and Shilpakala Academy, and documentary screenings on the Language Movement.
In Khulna, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, the city's mayor, along with the district's people paid his tributes at the Shaheed Minar situated in the city's Shaheed Hadis Park.
Singing, drawing and essay-writing competitions for children, and sports events for students were held along with documentary screenings.
Meanwhile, speakers in different discussion meetings stressed the need for using Bangla at all levels.
In Natore Sadar upazila, a free medical camp was held yesterday at a remote village, marking International Mother Language Day.
Agdigha Bitarkadhara, a voluntary social organisation, arranged the camp at Agdigha village.
Over 50 doctors specialised in various medical fields provided treatment. Pathology, X-ray, ultrasound and echocardiography tests were also provided for free.
Dr Shirin Akter Setu, assistant surgeon of Singra Upazila Health Complex and member of the organisation, provided treatment to 150 impoverished people of different villages of the upazila.
Jahurul Islam, the organisation's president, said they are also providing free medicines to patients.
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