Ekushey Feb programmes

The government has taken up elaborate programmes to observe the Ekushey February with due respect and solemnity, an official handout said yesterday, reports BSS.

An inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by State Minister for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Obaidul Quader, yesterday finalised the programmes.

The day will be a public holiday and the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast atop all public and private buildings and the educational institutions.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will put up special programmes and the national dailies will publish special supplements to mark the day.

Bangladesh missions abroad will also observe the day.

The religious affairs ministry will organise special prayers in all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship seeking peace of the departed souls of the language martyrs.

Bangla Academy, Nazrul Institute, Jatiya Grantha Kendra, Shilpakala Academy and Islamic Foundation will organise book fairs in their respective premises. Besides, these organisations will also hold discussions, seminars, recitations, hand-writing competitions and cultural functions.

Different road-islands will be decorated with festoons having Bangla alphabets while a musical soiree of patriotic songs will be arranged at the Ramna Batamul.

The meeting decided that Dhaka University authorities will finalised the programme schedule of the Central Shaheed Minar but the ministries of foreign and home affairs, Dhaka metropolitan police and Dhaka University authorities will jointly coordinate the matter of wreath placing by the head of the state, head of the government, foreign diplomats and other very important persons (VIP)) in the zero hours of the Ekushey February.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Islamic Foundation will jointly organise a programme at Azimpur graveyard in offering fateha, Quran-khwani and munajat.

Necessary measures will be taken for maintaining law and order, smooth supply of water and electricity, setting up emergency toilets and medical camps from Central Shaheed Minar to Azimpur graveyard.