A total of 90 out of the 117 educational institutions in Tetulia upazila under Panchagarh district do not have any Shaheed Minar. Although 21st February is recognized as the International Mother Language Day, the students of these institutions are not being able to pay respect to the language martyrs due to the unavailability of a Shaheed Minar on their school premises.
Even then, all the educational institutions of the country have been given instructions to observe the day, students of a handful educational institutions have built temporary Shaheed Minars with banana trees, cloth and bamboo twigs to celebrate the International Mother Language Day.
It has been witnessed that due to the absence of Shaheed Minar, many private educational institutions are closed down on this day and the teachers enjoy the holiday. Only a few educational institutions in Tetulia upazila celebrate the programme announced by government on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. Most of the educational institutions cannot lay wreaths in memory of the language martyrs.
According to the Tetulia upazila Elementary and Secondary Education Office, there are 6 colleges, 26 secondary schools, 74 primary schools and 11 madrasas (including 2 fazil madrasas) in seven unions of Tetulia upazila. Tetulia Government Degree College, Bhajanpur Degree College, Kalandiganj Fazil Madrasah, Sipaipara Girls High School, Fakirpara High School, Shalbahan Girls High School, Tentulia Pilot Model High School, Ranchandi High School and a few other educational institutions have Shaheed Minar.
Out of total 74 primary schools in Tetulia upazila, only seven have Shaheed Minar. Out of total 26 secondary schools, 17 have Shaheed Minar, out of 11 madrasas, only one has Shaheed Minar and only two out of six colleges have Shaheed Minar.
Headmaster of Shalbahan High School Md Abu Bakar Siddique and headmaster of Amjuani High School Md Omar Ali said that the Shaheed Minar in their schools are very old and not in good condition. Meanwhile, the headmaster of Paglidangi SESDP Model High School Md Humayun Kabir said, 21st February is the International Mother Language Day but most of the educational institutions do not have Shaheed Minar. He expresses his surprise regarding how students will pay homage to the martyrs, wondering how they will recollect the language movement of 1952. He demanded the establishment of Shaheed Minar in the educational institutions where it has not been established yet, through the upazila education officers and with the cooperation of upazila administration.
Tetulia Upazila Education Officer Mostafizur Rahman said that Shaheed Minar plays an important role in inspiring the new generation with the spirit of independence. If the day is observed with deep reverence, the students will be awakened to the values of the country's independence. It would be great if government-sponsored Shaheed Minar could be built in these educational institutions as many organizations in these areas cannot afford to build Shaheed Minar with their own funds. However, we have advised the heads of the educational institutions which do not have Shaheed Minar, to construct it with the cooperation of the local government (UP Chairman).
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sohag Chandra Saha said that most educational institutions do not have Shaheed Minar. Shaheed Minar will be officially built in the government institutions. In addition, we will take necessary measures subject to the receipt of government allocation if there is demand from the MPO registered private institutions, which do not have Shaheed Minar.
