Defenders remembered, victory rejoiced

Bare-footed, clad in black and white and holding flowers, people from all walks of life thronged Shaheed Minars across the country yesterday to pay tribute to Language Movement martyrs marking Amar Ekushey.

Programmes including discussions and coloruful cultural sessions nationwide and in Bangladesh missions in Denmark, Thailand, Turkey and India reminisced the supreme sacrifice made by Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafiur and others for Bangla, say messages received yesterday.

On this day in 1952, the Pakistani police had fired on peaceful protesters taking to Dhaka's streets demanding that Bangla be made one of the state languages of the then Pakistan.

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The day is also observed across the globe with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) on November 17, 1999 proclaiming February 21 as International Mother Language Day.

DHAKA

Covered with flowers, Central Shaheed Minar donned a solemn look as a sea of people singing the Amar Ekushey anthem "Amar bhaiyer rokte rangano Ekushey February" paid their deep respects.

Areas around the monument and Dhaka University (DU) wore a festive look with murals, graffiti and street paintings comprising Bangla alphabets and verses on mother languages.

Amid tight security, President Abdul Hamid, followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, placed a wreath at Central Shaheed Minar just as the clock struck one minute-past zero hour.

Ministers, lawmakers, political party leaders, dignitaries and hundreds of social, cultural, political and professional bodies followed suit.

Inspired by the Language Movement's spirit, many children were seen paying respects with their parents. "I have heard the tale of the Language Movement from Baba (father) many times. That is why I have come here," said Nazia Sultana, a class IV student.   

Crossing different hurdles, persons with different disabilities also arrived to pay homage. Talking to The Daily Star, many demanded government steps to end using Bangla in a distorted manner, claiming this was a trend growing among children and youths.

"As many children are studying in English medium schools, they pronounce Bangla sentences in English style. This should be stopped," said DU student Sourav Roy.

Talking to journalists after paying tribute, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said delivering verdicts in Bangla at the Supreme Court would be possible after the number of judges and manpower was  increased.

Different social-cultural organisations arranged various functions and television and newspapers presented special programmes and articles.

CHITTAGONG

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mosharraf Hossain first placed a wreath at Chittagong Central Shaheed Minar in the port city followed by Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, reports our staff correspondent in Chittagong.

The deputy commissioner and representatives from Chittagong District Administration, Chittagong Development Authority and police followed suit.

Leaders of the city and district units of Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Gonotontri Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Chittagong Union of Journalists, Chittagong Photojournalists Association, Chittagong Press Club and Chittagong District Bar Association also placed wreaths.

CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY (CU)

Led by Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, students, teachers, CU Rover Scouts and officials in a procession marched from the academic building to the CU Central Shaheed Minar in the morning to place wreaths, reports our CU correspondent.

Political and cultural organisations including Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi also paid homage.

CU organised events on the campus including drawing and sports competitions, colourful cultural programmes and a discussion with the VC in the chair.

BANGLADESH MISSIONS

The day was observed for the first time in Denmark in a multinational atmosphere by the newly opened Bangladesh embassy in Copenhagen and Asia House at the latter's auditorium, reports our diplomatic correspondent.

Bangladesh Ambassador Muhammad A Muhith, ambassadors and chargé d'affaires of the embassies of China, Thailand, Nepal and Armenia; academicians and representatives of the civil society, media and the Bangladeshi community were present.

Prof Manpreet Janeja of Copenhagen University presented the keynote speech and Asia House Chairman Carsten Dencker Nielsen also spoke.

The Bangladesh embassy and Unesco Asia Pacific Regional Bureau in Bangkok jointly observed the day in Bangkok with a speech by Bangladesh Ambassador Saida Muna Tasneem.

The embassy organised a colourful multilingual cultural programme participated by expatriate Bangladeshi children, representatives from Unesco and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and senior diplomats from neighbouring South Asian countries.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Mumbai also observed the day with Deputy High Commissioner Samina Naz chairing a discussion, attended by representatives of diplomatic missions, expatriate Bangladeshis and Indian government officials.

Consul General of Bangladesh in Istanbul FM Borhan Uddin accompanied by other officials and Bangladeshi expatriates paid homage through a one-minute's silence.