Workers giving finishing touches to the newly built Central Shaheed Minar in Thakurgaon, scheduled to open on February 20 this year.Photo: STAR

Work is going on round the clock to get the district's newly built Central Shaheed Minar, dedicated to the memory of 1952 Language Movement martyrs, prepared for inauguration on February 20.
Eager to observe this year's Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day at the Central Shaheed Minar on Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School ground in the town, people from all walks of life come here to see the progress of work every day.
"I often come to see the progress of work as I am eager to see completion of the Central Shaheed Minar here," Md Abul Hossain, assistant headmaster of Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School, told this correspondent during his recent visit there.
Cultural personality and educationist Prof Monotosh Kumer De, also chief editor of local daily Lokayan, said, "We hope cultural activity in the district will flourish centring the Shaheed Minar."
The site of the Shaheed Minar is a suitable one as it is in a corner of a vast open ground in the middle of the town, said NGO activist and cultural organiser Nazmin Begum Snigdha.
Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Muhammad Shahiduzzaman took initiative to build the Central Shaheed Minar and organised a meeting at his office in the first week of February last year.
Following the decision of the meeting attended by local elites including leaders of political parties and social and cultural organisations, educationists, journalists and businessmen, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen on February 21 laid foundation stone of the Shaheed Minar on Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School ground.
Thakurgaon Central Shaheed Minar Nirman Committee is implementing the construction project under the supervision of Local Government Engineering Department.
Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen will inaugurate the Shaheed Minar at Thakurgaon as chief guest of the ceremony on February 20 afternoon, DC Muhammad Shahiduzzaman said.
Language Movement veterans Md Dabirul Islam (posthumous) and Fazlul Karim will be given honour at the function.