Amar Ekushey today

The nation is observing "Amar Ekushey" – Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day – today (21 February), marking the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes for upholding the dignity of the mother tongue Bangla.

The day is being observed with due dignity in memory of language martyrs in Bangladesh and around the world at the initiative of the United Nations.

The Language Movement of Bangladesh is an unprecedented event in the world. It is the foundation of Bangladesh's independence.

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the immortal Ekushey in the history of the establishment of the mother tongue. Today, the nation bows down with utmost respect to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect the dignity of the mother tongue on this day in 1952.

On this day in 1952, the student community of Bengal erupted in protests in protest of the unilateral declaration of the then Pakistani ruling class that 'Urdu will be the only state language'. When they took out a procession ignoring all obstacles, Rafiq, Salam, Barkat, Jabbar and Shafiur, along with many others, were martyred in police firing. Their sacrifice later inspired the nation to achieve an independent state through the great Liberation War.

President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman started the day's programme by placing wreaths at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar at 12:01 am. Later, various important figures, representatives of foreign embassies in Dhaka, representatives of ministries, departments and organizations related to the Ekushey observance, and political organizations paid tribute to the Shaheed Minar.

After the President and Prime Minister paid tribute, law enforcement forces were deployed for an additional 30 minutes to ensure that various important figures paid tribute to the Central Shaheed Minar according to the prescribed procedure. After that, the Shaheed Minar area was opened for people from all walks of life to pay their respects.

Detailed programmes have been taken up by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on the occasion of the celebration of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.

On Ekushey February, Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day, the national flag will be flown at half-mast in all educational institutions, including government, semi-government, autonomous and private buildings in the country as per the rules. In order to make everyone aware of the correct size and rules for hoisting the flag, it will be broadcast on Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, all private television/radio and all print media. In line with the national program, all educational institutions in the country will formulate their own programs and observe the day, and all city corporations, municipalities, district councils, upazila councils, and union councils will celebrate the day with due dignity.

Necessary measures have been taken to strengthen security measures in the Shaheed Minar square and Azimpur graveyard areas on Ekushey February, as well as to prevent unpleasant situations by controlling excessive public gatherings or crowds. All government and private television channels, Bangladesh Betar and community radios will broadcast Ekushey programmes.

On the occasion of Shaheed Dibas, various road islands and other important places in Dhaka city will be decorated with festoons containing the alphabets of all the ethnic groups of the country, including Bengali. In addition, prayers will be organized in all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship in the country for the repose of the souls of the language martyrs. Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private radio and television will broadcast special programmes and publish special supplements in newspapers.

The Department of Mass Communication will organize mobile music concerts on the roads of Dhaka metropolis by truck and music concerts on the waterways adjacent to Dhaka city by boat, and mobile films will be shown in districts and upazilas. In addition, Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day will be celebrated with due dignity in Bangladesh missions abroad. Bangladesh Shishu Academy will organize drawing competitions, rhymes and poetry readings and cultural programmes for children on this occasion.

On the occasion of the day, Bangla Academy will organize the Ekushey Book Fair. Various publishing houses including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Public Library Department, Bangladesh National Museum, National Book Center, National Kabi Kazi Nazrul Institute, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and Islamic Foundation will participate in this book fair. Bangladesh Shishu Academy will take necessary measures to publish special children's issues on the occasion of the fair.

Bangladesh National Museum and its subordinate branch museums, Shilpacharya Zainul Folk and Crafts Museum, Bangladesh Folk and Crafts Foundation and all the archeological sites and museums of the Department of Archaeology will be arranged for children and adolescents, students, the elderly and children with special needs to visit them without tickets on that day. In addition, the Bangladesh National Museum and Independence Museum will screen documentaries, display various documentary evidence on the language movement, draw and display graffiti of the 2024 mass uprising, organize beautiful Bengali handwriting competition and seminars for children and adolescents. The Public Library Department will organize writing and drawing competitions and discussion meetings on the language movement in government public libraries at the division, district and upazila levels.

In addition, social and cultural organizations of the country will hold their programmes on this day.