Masum Mia, JakkanIB correspondent:
Language Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day 2025 were celebrated with due dignity and solemnity at National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University. The day's program began with a moment of silence in memory of the language martyrs in the early hours of Friday, February 21. Then, to pay deep respect to the memory of the language martyrs, Honorable Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam first placed a wreath at the Shahid Minar of the university. Later, one by one, the university's Treasurer Professor Dr. Zainul Abedin Siddiqui, deans of various faculties, heads of departments, teachers' associations, leaders of various organizations, teachers, officials, employees and students placed wreaths in memory of the language martyrs.
Then, in the morning, on the occasion of Language Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day, Honorable Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam hoisted the national flag at half-mast along with the national anthem, holding a black badge in front of the new administrative building of the university, and Treasurer Professor Dr. Zainul Abedin Siddiqui hoisted the black flag.
The significance of the day was highlighted in a discussion held in the conference room of the university's administrative building. The chief guest at the discussion was the Honorable Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam. At the beginning of his speech, he respectfully remembered those who died in various movements for the country from 1952 to 2024 and said, 'Ekushey is a day of mourning, pride, tradition and inspiration. And it will serve as an inspiration not only for today but also for the days to come. The lessons or impact of Ekushey must be spread among the coming and future generations.' The chief guest further said, 'India and Pakistan were divided on the basis of religion, while the consciousness of dividing Pakistan and Bangladesh on the basis of language was created in 1952. Although the language of the majority in Pakistan is Bengali, the language of some elite classes in the minority announced that Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan, and the movement began. The people of this country, especially the student community, protested this hegemonic and discriminatory decision of Pakistan and established Bengali as the state language through sacrifices in the movement. "Dominance and discrimination have never been permanent and will never be permanent in the future." Referring to the mother, motherland and mother tongue as complementary to each other, the Honorable Vice Chancellor called on researchers to conduct research in the Bengali language and provide guidance for the next generation.
The special guests were the University Treasurer Professor Dr. Zainul Abedin Siddiqui, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Dr. Mohammad Imdadul Huda, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering Prof. Dr. A. H. M. Kamal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr. Md. Bakhtiar Uddin, Dean of the Faculty of Law Muhammad Irfan Aziz and Registrar (Acting) Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman. The discussion meeting held under the chairmanship of Professor Dr. Sakhawat Hossain Sarkar, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and President of the 21 February 2025 Celebration Committee, was chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Habib-ul-Mawla, Head of the Department of Bengali Language and Literature. The welcome address was delivered by Professor Dr. Tapan Kumar Sarkar and the program was moderated by the Director of the Student Counseling and Guidance Department, Dr. Md. Ashraful Alam. Teachers, officers, employees and students were present at the program.
Meanwhile, Honorable Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam presented awards to the winners of the essay competition and painting competition organized on the occasion of Language Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.
