Amar Ekushey today
Posted: 21/02/2010 - 11:01
• Int’l Mother Language Day being observed worldwide
The nation and the world community are observing with due solemnity Amar Ekushey-the International Mother Language Day, today (Sunday) commemorating the martyrs who laid down their lives on this day 58 years ago for the dignity, honour and official recognition of Bangla as a state language.
On February 21 in 1952, Salam, Shafiq, Jabbar, Barkat and Rafiq were killed when police opened fire to disperse the students demonstrating for the declaration of Bengali as a state language.
At home, the Amar Ekushey is being observed this year under unprecedented security alert across the country and amid huge enthusiasm. National leaders and thousands of people started thronging the Central Shaheed Minar from Saturday midnight to place wreaths there as a mark of homage to martyrs. Several thousand law enforcers have been deployed around the Shaheed Minar to maintain peace and security.
The day is being observed as the International Mother Language Day in about 200 countries across the globe.
The Ekushey February was recognized as the International Mother Language Day by the UNESCO on November 17, 1999.
The day is an official holiday. President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia have issued separate messages on the occasion paying homage to the great martyrs of historic language movement.
Elaborate programmes have been chalked out both at official and non-official levels to observe the day to pay tribute to the martyrs. Radio Bangladesh, Bangladesh Television and other TV channels are airing special programmes and the national dailies have published special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
Political parties, socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions have drawn up elaborate programmes on this occasion. Dhaka University, Nazrul Institute, Shilpakala Academy, Jatiya Grantha Kendra, Central Public Library and different cultural organisations have chalked out separate programmes to mark the day. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya party and other political parties and their front organizations have also taken up programmes separately to observe the day.
The programmes include hoisting of national flag at half-mast and black flag atop public and private buildings, wearing of black badges and placing of floral wreaths at different Shaheed Minars including the Central Shaheed Minar and offering of prayers at the mazar of language movement martyrs.
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