Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS)- Salam, Rafiq, Jabbar, Barkat and many others laid down their lives on the streets to protect their mother tongue.

The glorious role played by professionals and students from all walks of life in Rajshahi during the Language Movement has become a proud part of history.

The first Shaheed Minar of the movement was built in the Muslim Students’ Hostel area of Rajshahi College. However, Shaheed Minar did not receive state recognition.

About 300 yards away from the site of the first Shaheed Minar, the Rajshahi Central Shaheed Minar has been constructed. The monument has been prepared for paying tribute.

Construction work has been completed, and cleaning activities are underway. Residents of Rajshahi will offer their respects at the first hour of International Mother Language Day.

Built in the style of the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, the monument has already drawn the attention of locals.

However, there will be no formal inauguration of this Central Shaheed Minar. It has been constructed on 1.1 acres of land beside Sonadighi Pond, on the site of the old Survey Institute in Rajshahi city.

The construction cost amounted to Taka 7 crore 80 lakh. The project was implemented by the Rajshahi Zila Parishad.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad, Umme Fatima, said that the construction of the Rajshahi Central Shaheed Minar has been completed and cleaning work has also been finished.

There will be no formal inauguration ceremony. It will be opened to the residents of Rajshahi from the first hour of the day. 

Matters related to publicity will be handled by the district administration.

On February 21, 1952, in protest against the killings in Dhaka, the first Shaheed Minar was built in Rajshahi. That evening, a meeting was held in a room of the New Hostel of Rajshahi College.

According to the decision taken at the meeting, a memorial was constructed in the hostel premises that very night.

Students built the “Shaheed Memorial” using bricks, mud and bamboo. With unskilled hands, the country’s first Shaheed Minar was completed at midnight.

The next morning, on February 22, it was formally inaugurated through the offering of floral tributes.

 Within a few hours, police of the then Pakistan government demolished it.