With a vow to resist the destroyers of language, culture and heritage, the Bengali nation on Tuesday observed the great 'International Mother Language Day' and the 'Martyrs' Day' all over the country and elsewhere across the globe.
At the same time, the entire nation paid homage to the language heroes, who sacrificed their lives to secure Bengali as the mother tongue on February 21 in 1952.
The nation observed the ‘Amar Ekushey’ by paying glowing tributes to the language martyrs by placing wreaths at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar and also at all other Shaheed Minars across the country since the early hours of Tuesday.
People from all walks of life thronged the Shaheed Minar area with flowers in their hands and the song—Amar Bhaier Rakte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami ki Bhulite Pari--on their lips.
The process of paying tributes to the language heroes started when President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs.
Both the Head of the State and the Head of Government paid their homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in capital Dhaka at one minute past zero hours Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived on the Shaheed Minar premises six minutes before the clock struck 12 midnight, while President Abdul Hamid reached the Central Shaheed Minar three minutes before zero hours Tuesday.
President Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together in slow pace while the historic immortal song on the Amar Ekushey "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February . . . Ami Ki Bhulitey Pari?, "played.
Just after the President, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed the wreath at the Shaheed Minar.
They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Language Heroes.
Speaker of the National Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury, ministers, advisers to the prime minister, parliament members, chiefs of the three services, senior Awami League leaders, freedom fighters, foreign diplomats, high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.
Subsequently flanked by cabinet members and senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, placed another wreath at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of the party.
Later, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Deputy Speaker Shamsul Hoque Tuku placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.
On arrival at the Shaheed Minar, the President was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman.
Jatiya Party leader GM Quader, on behalf of the Opposition Leader in the Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad, also placed a wreath at the Shaheed Minar.
Later, chiefs of the three services, inspector general of police, the ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, the heads of different international organizations, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), war-wounded freedom fighters, Dhaka University Alumni Association and Jatiya Samjatantrik Dal (JSD), among others, placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
Later, the Shaheed Minar was opened to the public when hundreds of people from all walks of life walked barefoot to it with flowers in hands while humming "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February" to recall the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes on this day in 1952.
People from all walks of life with bare feet started pouring into martyr’s memorial places across the country as the clock ticked past Monday to pay their rich tributes to the language heroes.
They paid tributes to language heroes, known and unknown, who gave their lives for the mother tongue Bangla, by placing flowers and wreaths at shaheed minars across the country.
The central Shaheed Minar was opened for people at about 12:20am after the state dignitaries paid tribute to the language heroes.
The flags of all government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations remained hoisted at half mast according to exact rules, colours and measurements.
President Hamid and prime minister Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.
Aamar Ekushey, also known as Bhasha Shaheed Dibas or Language Martyrs’ Day, has come to be observed as International Mother Language Day since February 2000 following a UNESCO announcement in November 1999.
Political parties, including the ruling Awami League and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, socio-cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions have taken elaborate programmes to mark the day.
Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilplakala Academy, Kabi Nazrul Institute, Bangladesh National Museum, and others also arranged special programmes marking the day.
Like in previous years, Dhaka University supervises the Amar Ekushey observance.
Dhaka University fine arts students decorated the walls around the Central Shaheed Minar with floral designs.
State-run and private television and radio channels aired special programmes on the occasion. Newspapers published supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
Law enforcers took tight security measures in and around the Central Shaheed Minar.