Representative of Bidhan Mandal (Faridpur):
In the early hours of February 21, tributes were paid to the language martyrs at the Shaheed Minar in Saltha Upazila of Faridpur.
The upazila administration placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar at 12:01 am on Thursday. After that, various organizations including the Upazila Freedom Fighters Command, Saltha Police Station, Saltha Press Club, Upazila Health Complex, Fire Service and others placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
In addition, the upazila administration will organize black badge wearing, morning processions, discussion meetings, and prayer mahfils in memory of the martyrs.
It is worth noting that the day has been celebrated at the international level for more than two decades since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized International Mother Language Day in tribute to the great Ekushey.
This day is a day of mourning and pain for the Bengali nation. On the other hand, the mother tongue is reflected in the glory of the supreme sacrifice for the rights of Bengal. The greatest and rarest legacy for any nation is the legacy of death - the legacy of knowing how to die and being able to die. The martyrs of February 21, 1952, gave that great and rare legacy to the nation.
On this day in 1952, students and youth of Bengal (then East Pakistan) spontaneously took to the streets, ignoring the ostentatiousness of the ruling class and Section 144 of the administration, demanding that 'Bangla' be made the state language. The rapid pace of the movement for the establishment of the mother tongue alarmed the Pakistani rulers, and on that day, the police opened fire on the student-public procession, and Salam, Jabbar, Shafiq, Barkat and Rafiq were shot and martyred.
February 21 is a public holiday. On this day, the national flag is flown at half-mast and the black flag is hoisted at sunrise in all educational institutions and government, semi-government, autonomous and private organizations in the country in the correct order, color and size.
