BSS-37 PM-EKUSHEY-DISCUSSION-2-LAST-DHAKA

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ZCZC

BSS-37

PM-EKUSHEY-DISCUSSION-2-LAST-DHAKA

At the beginning of her speech the Prime Minister expressed her profound shock at the loss of lives in a devastating fire in the city on Wednesday night. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.

The prime minister said mother tongue is a birth-right of a human being. But, unfortunately the rulers of Pakistan aiming at exploiting the nation, hit the language of Bengalis who were in the forefront to create Pakistan, she said.

Focusing on the history of the Language Movement, Sheikh Hasina said although the 21st February in 1952 witnessed the tragic incident, the movement for mother language began much earlier.

She said Bangabandhu was sent to jail time and gain for his role in the language movement. Bangabandhu was kept behind the bar at a stretch from 1949 to 1952, she said.

At the proposal of Bangabandhu, she said, the State Language Action Council was formed comprising Chhatra League, Tamuddin Majlish and other student organizations in 1948.

This Action Council had called for a general strike on 11th March in 1948 across the country. On that day, Bangabandhu was arrested while he was picketing in front of the Secretariat, she said.

“In the subsequent days, Bangabandhu was at the center of all movements and struggles. For his involvement Bangabandhu had to endure huge torture and persecution of the rulers,” Sheikh Hasina said.

Sheikh Hasina said it was the Awami League which included the provision of making Bangla as a state language after its win in the general election in 1956. The Awami League government had declared 21 February as the Language Martyrs Day and allocated fund form construction of Shahid Minar, she said.

The Prime Minister said, Bangladesh, as the hub of language movement has shouldered a great responsibility to protect the languages now on the verge of extinction. International Mother Language Institute has been constituted for research and give support to protect the languages of different ethnicities and small groups, she said.

About the current political situation, the Prime Minister said a vested section feels sick when people of Bangladesh live in peace and become economically sound. They want to play duck and drake with the fate of the people of Bangladesh, she added.

BSS/AKH/KU/2029 HRS