Dhaka, Feb 21 (V7N) – President and Chief Advisor led the nation in paying homage to the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of International Mother Language Day.

At exactly 12:01 am, the President laid a wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar, followed by the Chief Advisor. Both dignitaries stood in solemn silence for a moment, paying deep respect to the memory of the language heroes who sacrificed their lives in 1952 for the recognition of Bangla as a state language.

The leaders arrived at the Central Shaheed Minar just before midnight, ensuring they were present for the first tribute of the day.

Public Tributes Begin

From 11:00 pm, thousands of people from different walks of life gathered near the Palashi end, eagerly waiting for their turn to pay respects at the Shaheed Minar. The area was filled with an atmosphere of reverence, as citizens carried floral tributes and banners honoring the martyrs.

After the official state tribute, members of the Advisory Council, heads of the three armed forces, and other dignitaries also laid wreaths at the Shaheed Minar. The general public was allowed to offer their tributes from 12:40 am onwards.

A Day of Remembrance and Reflection

International Mother Language Day, observed worldwide, commemorates the sacrifice of students who were martyred by police firing during protests demanding Bangla be recognized as a state language in 1952. Their struggle led to the eventual recognition of Bangla as one of the official languages of Pakistan in 1956, and later, the United Nations declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 2010.

Security was tightened around the Central Shaheed Minar, ensuring a peaceful and orderly observance of the historic day.

END/MSS/AJ