On the occasion of Shaheed Dibash (Language Martyr’s Day) and International Mother Language Day, we are paying rich tributes to the country’s illustrated sons who embraced martyrdom in 1952 for our rights to speak our mother language. On this day in 1952, students and the common man in Dhaka took to the streets in protest against the then Pakistan government’s denial of Bangla as the national language and imposition of Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil were killed in police firings on this day in 1952 when students came out in a procession from the Dhaka University campus breaching section 144 to press home their demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language of the then Pakistan.
Since 1953, the day is being observed as the ‘Shaheed Dibash’ at home. Besides, the day is also being observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the 'February 21 (Ekushey February)' as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.It may be mentioned that when the warm sunshine, budding flowers and dancing of birds were giving a fresh and colorful look to the nature, the killing of the valiant sons of the soil sent shock waves throughout the country. The blazing red and yellow colours of the spring were also faded and far away dissolved into silence. But the Bengali people turned the grief of the loss of their sons into strength and promised they would continue to fight to make their country independent.
We all will have to come forward
in order to save our language from
distortion immediately
The day is important to all Bengali-speaking and people speaking other languages across the globe as the spirit of Amar Ekushey has become an inspiration to preserve native languages. However, the Language Movement was the turning point of the country’s history as it influenced Bengali people to prepare for the supreme sacrifices and achieve the victory. And after the 19 years of Language Movement, the country achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971 in exchange of three million martyrs’ lives and the honour of two lakh women.
The government should do the needful to spread Bangla literature across the world. Also, necessary steps should be taken to flourish Bangla language, literature and culture further in the international arena. Last but not the least, showing utmost respects to the language martyrs, we hope, the government would introduce Bangla at all levels.
We want people to know different languages, but in doing so there should not be any distortion of our language, and everyone should remain aware and cautious in this regard. Therefore, we all will have to come forward in order to save our language from distortion immediately.