The nation is set to observe 'Amar Ekushey', the Language Martyr's Day (Shaheed Day) and the International Mother Language Day tomorrow (Tuesday), marking the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes for upholding the dignity of mother tongue Bangla, reports UNB.
The day will also be observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the Ekushey February as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
This year, the theme of International Mother Language Day 2023 is "Multilingual education- a necessity to transform education".
People from all walks of life will pay their respect to the heroes of the Language Movement who sacrificed their lives for achieving the recognition of Bangla as the state language of erstwhile Pakistan.
On February 21, 1952, students and the common people in Dhaka took to the streets in protest against the then Pakistani government's denial of Bangla as the national language and imposition of Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil were killed in police firings on this day in 1952 when students came out in a procession from the Dhaka University campus breaching section 144 to press home their demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language of then Pakistan.
The day is a public holiday.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the eve of the day.
In his message the president said, “The spirit of Amar Ekushey is now the incessant source of inspiration for protecting own languages and culture of peoples of different languages in the world. But we have to be more diligent in proper practice and preservation of Bengali language and culture. With the blessings of information technology, we are now the inhabitants of a single global village. Therefore, to maintain pace of advancement with the developed world, our present generation has to attain necessary skills in different languages which are recognized as international communication media.”
“I believe that observing the International Mother Language Day will play a positive role in the development and preservation of our own language as well as in building a sustainable future through multilingual education - this is our expectation,” he said.
In her message the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Bengali nationalism was established through the language movement. Following the ideals of Bengali nationalism and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib we have made Bangladesh a role model for development in the world in the last 14 years. We will transform the country into Smart Bangladesh by 2041- building Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Economy, and Smart Society,”
“In addition, we are also implementing Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100. I firmly believe that we will be able to establish the developed, prosperous, and self-esteemed ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as the Father of the Nation dreamed,” she said.
National dailies will publish special supplements marking the day and Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes on the occasion.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
