Bogura residents to pay tribute at newly built Shaheed Minar

The newly built Shaheed Minar in Bogura's Shaheed Khokon Park, modeled after Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, is now fully visible. It eagerly awaits being adorned with flowers from the first hours of February 21, as the people of Bogura prepare to pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement on International Mother Language Day.

Reconstructed under the supervision of the District Council, the new Shaheed Minar will serve as the focal point for commemorations this Friday (February 21).

Since independence, two previous versions of the Central Shaheed Minar had been constructed at the same location. The first one, designed in 1978 by the late freedom fighter and craftsman Aminul Karim Dulal, featured the Bengali letters ‘ক’ and ‘খ’ engraved on the western side and ‘অ’ and ‘আ’ on the southern side.

In 2005, this structure was demolished and replaced by another Shaheed Minar, but it was criticized for not being built properly. Dissatisfied with the outcome, cultural activists, writers, artists, and political leaders led a movement demanding its reconstruction. Public frustration grew further when gatherings and cultural programs in Shaheed Khokon Park were banned, turning the demand into a large-scale protest.

In response to this long-standing demand, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives allocated 5 million BDT on May 18, 2023, for the reconstruction of the Central Shaheed Minar.

Construction work began in February last year and was finally completed just in time for this year’s observance of Shaheed Dibash. On Wednesday (February 19), the structure was officially handed over to the District Council.

Golam Mohammad Shahnewaz, Chief Executive Officer of the District Council, told Views Bangladesh that the construction was completed under significant pressure to ensure the Shaheed Minar was ready before February 21. As a result, the people of Bogura will now be able to honor the language martyrs at the new monument.

However, concerns remain regarding cleanliness and maintenance. Waste and debris are still present around the Shaheed Minar, and the lack of public toilets in Shaheed Khokon Park has been a longstanding issue.

The District Council clarified that their responsibility was limited to reconstructing the monument. Ongoing maintenance and any new facilities now fall under the jurisdiction of the municipal authorities. They have advised the municipality to construct a public toilet in the park’s eastern corner.

Bogura Municipality Administrator Masum Ali Beg stated, “There are mixed opinions regarding the construction of a public toilet. We will hold discussions soon to reach a decision. We hope to find an effective way to keep the area around the Central Shaheed Minar clean as soon as possible.”