Today is the Language Movement Day or Bhasha Andolon Dibosh, also called known as the Language Martyrs' Day. The day - 21 February, is a national holiday to pay respect to the martyrs of the 1952 language movement.
The day is also known as International Mother Language Day which is observed worldwide held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism.
On this Day on February 21 in 1952, the brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives in protest against the attempts of the then Pakistani ruler to impose Urdu as the only state language disregarding Bangla as the language of the majority people in then East Pakistan.
The brave protesters, mostly students, defied the orders and took to the streets defying police barricades to stop the students from marching onwards from Dhaka University premises.
Police however, opened fire on the chanting crowd and killed four while injuring many others. In recognition of the day people of Bangladesh and also the people across the globe are now observing the day as the 'International Mother Language Day.'
On the occasion, the Bangladesh government, people from all walks of life, including all the socio-political and cultural organisations have chalked out elaborated programmes to pay glowing tributes to the memories of the language movement martyrs, the valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifice to establish the rights of the mother tongue, Bangla, in 1952.
The day will also be observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised 'February 21 (Ekushey February)' as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
The government has already taken extensive programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in showing respect to the language martyrs by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar beside Dhaka Medical College and Hospital at one minute on the zero hour.
Both the president and the premier issued separate messages paying rich tributes to those who embraced martyrdom on the day.
In observance of the day, the Central Shaheed Minar premises has been decorated with paintings, graffiti and selected verses on the mother language.
Tight security measures have been enforced around the main altar of the Shaheed Minar, its adjoining areas and Azimpur graveyard of the language martyrs.
The national flags are kept at half-mast in a proper manner having accurate size at all the buildings of government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations and educational institutions.
In line with the national programmes, all educational institutions, local government bodies, district and upazila administrations, Bangladesh missions abroad have also taken proper measures to observe the day.
Proper measures have been taken to strengthen security system in and around all the venues, including the Central Shaheed Minar, and Dhaka University campus adjoining areas.
On the occasion, road islands and other important places in the capital have been decorated with festoons inscribed with letters of different languages including Bangla.
Bangladesh missions abroad are also organising different programmes, including placing of wreaths at Shaheed Minar, discussions on Bangabandhu and Language Movement, and book and photo exhibitions where diplomats of different countries and Bangladeshi expatriates will join.
Besides, messages of the president, the prime minister, foreign minister, state minister for foreign affairs and state minister for cultural affairs also will be read out at the missions.
Marking the day, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Kabi Nazrul Institute, National Book Centre, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh National Museum, Department of Archaeology, Department of Public Libraries, International Mother Language Institute, Department of Archives and Library, Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute, three districts in hill tracts, Tribal Cultural Academy in Birishiri of Netrokona, Rajshahi Divisional Ethnic Minority Cultural Academy (RDEMCA), Manipuri Lalitkala Academy, Cox's Bazar Cultural Centre and other organizations and institutions will organize book fairs, discussions, seminars, symposiums, poem recitation, drawing and hand writing competitions and screen documentaries.
Children, students, senior citizens and the children with special needs could visit the National Museum and its affiliated branch museums and all the archeological sites and museums under the Department of Archaeology free of cost.
The Awami League has drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner.
Other programmes include wearing of black badges and later bringing out Provat Feri from south gate of New Market as a mark of profound respect to the Language Movement martyrs.
Besides, a discussion will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 3:30pm on February 22 to mark the day. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion.
On February 21 in 1952, Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar and Barkat embraced martyrdom in police firing in front of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as they took to the street to intensify the campaign to establish Bangla as the state language of the then East Pakistan, sowing the seeds of subsequent movements for the country's independence.
They were killed as police opened fire on students demonstrating under the All-Party Students Action Committee against conspiracies of Pakistani rulers to declare "Urdu" as the only state language.
The movement for Bangla, however, did not stop and Pakistan government on February 29, 1956 was compelled to recognise Bangla as one of the state languages besides Urdu.
The decision, however, could not stop the movement against repression and misrule of Pakistani government that subsequently led the Bangali to the War of Independence and the emergence of Bangladesh.
