The nation is paying glorious tributes to the Language Movement martyrs marking the day of 'Amar Ekushey' and the International Mother Language Day today.

The Language Movement martyrs laid down their lives for the recognition of Bangla as a state language on this day in 1952.

Humming "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February...," thousands of people are thronging the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka and elsewhere since the early hours today to pay homage.

Marking the day, the Central Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas in Dhaka University campus have worn a colourful look, sporting street art with Bangla alphabets and verses about mother language on the walls.


People throng the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to pay homage to the Language Martyrs, on February 21, 2020. Photo: Palash Khan/ Star
The national flag has been kept hoisted at half-mast in all educational institutions and government, semi-government and autonomous offices to show respect to the language martyrs.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight. They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.

The president and the prime minister issued separate messages on the eve of the day, paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement of 1952, BSS reported.



Different political-social-cultural-professional organisations are scheduled to arrange various programmes, including seminars and cultural functions, to observe the Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner.

Quran Khwani and offering Fateha will be held at Azimpur graveyard in the city while prayers will be arranged at all worship places across the country seeking salvation of the departed souls of the martyrs of the Language