Nation honours language martyrs

The nation is observing Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day today, paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic 1952 Language Movement. Streams of barefooted people from all walks of life filed past the shaheed minars after placing flowers at the altars in the capital and elsewhere across the country from one minute past Friday midnight, singing the immortal Amar Ekushey anthem “Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulite Pari”.

In Dhaka, thousands of people, wearing black badges and holding bouquets, stood barefooted in queues at the Central Shaheed Minar before the clock struck midnight. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman led the nation in paying homage to the valiant sons of the soil by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at zero hours. The president placed wreaths at 12:01am, while the premier paid his homage at 12:07am.

After placing the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the language martyrs who seventy four hours ago had laid down their lives for the cause of establishing Bangla as a state language of Pakistan.

Flanked by senior party leaders, Tarique placed another wreath at the plinth of the monument as BNP chairman after praying for the salvation of the departed souls of martyrs.

Later, chiefs of the three forces – Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan – paid tributes to the language martyrs on behalf of their respective forces.

Then Leader of the Opposition, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafikur Rahman along with his senior party colleagues and 11-party electoral unity leaders placed wreaths and prayed for the martyrs.

A few minutes later, Members of the diplomatic corps, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, and different government and private organisations and political, cultural and professional bodies placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Street paintings, festoons, banners, buntings and placards with popular inscriptions on the Language Movement featured the Shaheed Minar area, adding to the solemnity of the event.

Sowing the very seeds of unique nationhood based on language and culture, valiant sons of the soil sacrificed their blood during the Language Movement in 1952 to establish the honour of Bangla as the state language of then Pakistan.

On 21 February, the Pakistani police opened fire on a peaceful procession in Dhaka and brutally killed many people, mostly students, including Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and Shafiur.

The day is being observed as International Mother Language Day in 193 countries across the globe following UNESCO’s recognition of 21 February on 17 November 1999.

The day is a public holiday.

The Language Movement was a watershed in history as it fortified Bangalee nationalism and its spirit ultimately led to the country’s independence in 1971.

Back in 1952, the autocratic government imposed Urdu, the language of less than 20 percent of people, as the only official language of Pakistan.

But students and people of East Pakistan rose in revolt against the then Pakistan government’s refusal to recognise Bangla, the language of 56 percent people of Pakistan, as one of the state languages.

In the face of strong opposition in 1956, the government was compelled to make Bangla, alongside Urdu, a state language of Pakistan.

Marking the occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in separate messages, urged all the Bangla-speaking people to be ever more mindful in Bangla’s proper practice and called upon all concerned to work collectively to uphold and protect the dignity of languages worldwide.

“Language is the foremost custodian and carrier of a nation’s existence, heritage, and culture . . . As Bangla was earned through immeasurable sacrifice and the sacred blood of martyrs’, we must be ever more mindful in its proper practice and in preserving its quality and dignity,” the president said in his message.

“I am confident that the observance of International Mother Language Day will contribute meaningfully to build a prosperous nation while shaping a sustainable future,” the head of the state added.

Terming the sacrifice of the martyrs marked the first decisive step toward the liberation of the then East Bengal from prolonged domination and oppression, the prime minister, in his message, urged all concerned to join hands in safeguarding and preserving the dignity of languages across the globe.

“Let us preserve the linguistic diversity within our country, safeguard our unique culture and heritage, and ensure the proper use and cultivation of Bangla,” the premier said.

Extending his heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to all people and linguistic communities across the world, including the speakers of the mother tongue, Bangla on the day, he paid profound tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952, whose supreme sacrifice secured the rightful status and dignity of Bangla as our mother language.

“We honour the Language Martyrs, the heroes of 1971, the brave souls of the 2024 mass uprising, and all who have sacrificed for democracy in our nation’s glorious history,” the head of the government stated.

“To uphold their sacrifices and legacy, we must build a stable, secure, and humane democratic state, where independence is protected, institutions are accountable, and the people remain the ultimate source of power,” Tarique Rahman added.

Different political parties, including the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP) and other major parties, as well as social and cultural organisations and professional bodies, have chalked out elaborate programmes and are paying their respects to the language martyrs, marking the day.

The national flag has been hoisted at half-mast and black flags are flowing atop government, autonomous and private offices across the country.

State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels and radio stations are airing special programmes.

Newspapers have published special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

Law enforcement agency members, including police and RAB, have been deployed across the country to prevent any untoward situation.