People have flocked to the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the language martyrs on Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day. People from all walks of life have gathered with flowers, bouquets and placards in their hands to pay tribute to various organizations, institutions and individuals.
On Friday (February 21), the entrance to Dhaka University's Palashi intersection was opened for the general public at 12:40 am. Since then, people have started coming to the Shaheed Minar one after another. Everyone, regardless of party or opinion, is paying tribute to the language martyrs.
People's feelings about the importance of the language movement
People who came to pay their respects say that the 1952 Language Movement taught Bengalis to assert their rights. Bangla is the national language today because of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the language. The spirit of the movement still inspires the minds of Bengalis.
"Since I live in Azimpur, I come to the Shaheed Minar every year on the first hour of the 21st. If our predecessors had not given their lives for the language, we would not have been able to speak our mother tongue. Therefore, today I remember the language martyrs with deep respect."
Various educational institutions, cultural organizations, and political leaders also paid tribute. Everyone had one thing in mind - the sacrifices made for the language should never be forgotten.
Ekushey celebrations across the country
Not only in Dhaka, various programs are being held across the country to commemorate the language martyrs. The day is being celebrated through wreath-laying at the Shaheed Minar, discussion meetings, cultural programs, and a morning procession.
Education of the Language Movement
This day of the Language Movement is not only a time to pay tribute, but also an inspiration to work for the dignity and prosperity of the Bengali language. We must also highlight our sense of responsibility towards this language, which was acquired through the sacrifices of the martyrs.
Let the Bengali language and culture move forward in the spirit of Ekushey—this is everyone's only wish.
