DHAKA, Feb 20, 2022 (BSS) - The Martyrs Day and the International Mother Language Day will be observed tomorrow marking the 70th years of the Language Movement. 

People from all walks of life will pay glowing tributes to the memories of language movement martyrs, the valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifices to establish the rights of the mother tongue Bangla in 1952. 

The Ekhusey programme will begin placing wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar in the capital at 12:01 am. 

People wearing black badges will also pay rich tribute at the graves of the language heroes by placing wreaths.
 
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages marking the day.

The day will also be observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the ‘February 21 (Ekushey February)’ as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999. 

On February 21 in 1952, Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar and Barkat embraced martyrdom in police firing in front of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as they took to the street to intensify the campaign to establish Bangla as the state language of the then Pakistan, sowing the seeds of subsequent movements for the country’s independence. 

The movement for Bangla, however, did not stop and Pakistan government on February 29, 1956 was compelled to recognise Bangla as one of the state languages apart from Urdu. 

The decision, however, could not stop the movement against repression and misrule of Pakistani government and subsequently led to the War of Independence and ultimately the emergence of Bangladesh. 

The day is a public holiday. 

National flags will be kept half-mast in a proper manner having accurate size at all the government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations and educational institutions.

In line with the national programmes, all educational institutions, local government bodies, district and upazila administration, Bangladeshi missions abroad will take proper measures considering the COVID-19 situation to observe the day. 

Offering Fateha and Qurankhwani will be held at Azimpur graveyard and special prayers will be arranged at all worship places across the country seeking eternal peace of language martyrs.

Necessary steps have been taken as the people including the head of the state as well as the head of the government can pay their tribute at the Shaheed Minar under the conventional way. 

Maximum five representatives from  a particular organization and only two persons personally are allowed to place wreaths at the Shaheed Minar as per the health guidelines considering the present COVID-19 situation. 

Stringent security measures have been taken in and around the Central Shaheed Minar and Dhaka University campus. 

Key city points and crossings and intersections will be decorated with festoons with inscription of Bangla letters. 

Public and private television channels and newspapers will broadcast programs and publish publications on the occasion.