Reverence for heroes
“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 capital's Central Shaheed Minar and elsewhere to pay homage to the Language Movement heroes yesterday.
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 including discussions and cultural sessions nationwide and in Bangladesh missions abroad reminisced the sacrifice made by Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafique and others, according to messages received yesterday.
The day is being observed worldwide as the Unesco in 1999, declared February 21 as the 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 a few others were killed when police opened fire on their procession.
In Dhaka, people gathered at the Shaheed Minar 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.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, opposition leader of the parliament Raushan Ershad and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar at early hours.
They stood in solemn silence there for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.
Later on, the Shaheed Minar was opened to the public. Thousands from all strata of society walked barefoot to it for paying tributes to the valiant sons of the soil.
Institutions and organisations including Dhaka University and Communist Party of Bangladesh also observed the day.
Students and teachers of Scholastica observed the day by laying floral wreaths at Shaheed Minar set up at the school premises and holding cultural events, said a press release.
Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Mumbai, India also held an event at its chancery building, according to another press release. Speaking at the programme, Deputy High Commissioner Samina Naz said, “Our sacrifice for the mother language not only created a unique example in the world history it was also a tremendous effort to uphold the Bengali political and cultural identity.”
In Narsingdi, Ekushey February and International Mother Language Day was observed with due respect.
Local lawmakers, political party leaders and government high officials placed floral wreaths at the district Shaheed Minar one minute past midnight, reports our Narsingdi correspondent.
In Brahmanbaria, students of Durgapur Government Primary School built a makeshift Shaheed Minar with banana tree and paid tribute around dawn, reports our Brahmanbaria correspondent. “It is important to pay respect to the martyrs for their sacrifice,” said the school's assistant teacher Syed Osman, adding, “The children were happy as they could pay homage.”
In Sherpur, people from all walks of life paid respect by placing floral wreaths at the Shaheed Minar in the district town yesterday, report our Sherpur correspondent.
In Munshiganj, like previous years, students from different schools arranged events to mark the day. They also built a Shaheed Minar after saving up their lunch money, reports our Munshiganj correspondent.