February immerses people of Bangladesh in intimacy, emotion: Mohammad Azam

The Director General of Bangla Academy, Mohammad Azam, has stated that the spirit of Ekushey remains a daily, vibrant presence in our lives. Ekushey is not just a part of the past; it is truly the present.

He made this remark on Friday (February 21) at the main stage of the book fair during the ‘Amar Ekushey Speech 2025’ event.

In his welcome speech, Professor Mohammad Azam said that February 21, 1952, played a crucial role in three aspects of Bangladesh’s history: the emergence of an independent state, its subsequent legitimacy, and the preceding context. This is why February 21 naturally immerses the people of Bangladesh in intimacy and emotion.

A paper titled "The Struggle for Language, Mass Uprising, and the Dream of an Equal Bangladesh" was presented by Professor Anu Muhammad. The event was presided over by the President of Bangla Academy, Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque.

In his paper, the speaker stated that the movement for the right to the mother tongue and the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan began in 1948 and reached its peak on February 21, 1952. The inspiration from the language movement fueled the mass uprising of 1969, the Liberation War of 1971, the anti-dictatorship movement of the 1990s, and the student-led mass uprising of 2024. Before and after the Liberation War, our struggle has always been driven by the aspiration for a just and discrimination-free society. In this context, if we aim to build an equitable Bangladesh, we must first question the status of the mother tongue, particularly its position as the state language. To establish a truly discrimination-free Bangladesh, we need to eliminate the roots of inequality. Moving towards realizing this vision requires a clear economic, political, and philosophical stance on change.

In his presidential address, Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque stated that history is not just about the past; it is the science of uncovering the secrets of transformation. To overcome national crises, we must have a thorough understanding of the political and national struggles of this region. Only through this knowledge can we move forward in building a better future.

Meanwhile, Bangla Academy undertook extensive programs to commemorate Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day. The day's events began at 12:30 AM with a tribute at the Central Shaheed Minar, led by Bangla Academy's Director General, Professor Mohammad Azam.

At 8 AM, the main stage of the book fair hosted a poetry reading session featuring self-composed poems. Around 150 poets participated in the session, which was presided over by poet Hasan Hafiz.

Today's Events:

On Saturday, February 22, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair enters its 22nd day, opening at 11 AM and continuing until 9 PM. From 11 AM to 1 PM, there will be a special Children’s Hour.

At 4 PM, the main stage of the book fair will host a discussion titled "Life and Work: Kaykobad." The keynote paper will be presented by Imran Kamal, with discussions by Habib Ar Rahman. The session will be presided over by Abu Dayen.