Dhaka, Feb 21 (V7N) — The nation observed Great Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day with solemn respect on Saturday, commemorating the historic sacrifices of 1952 when students laid down their lives demanding recognition of Bangla as a state language.

On this day, police of the then regime opened fire on protesting students, leading to the martyrdom of Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Shafiur and Jabbar — a legacy that continues to inspire the nation.

Cricketers Join Nationwide Tribute

Members of the Bangladesh national cricket team also paid homage to the language martyrs through messages on social media, reflecting the deep emotional significance of Ekushey February.

  • Shakib Al Hasan shared a symbolic post on his verified Facebook page, writing, “Humble tribute to all language martyrs on February 21st.”

  • Tamim Iqbal posted a photo with the caption, “Deep respect to the martyrs of the language movement.”

  • Mashrafe Bin Mortaza wrote, “Humble respect to all the language martyrs.”

  • Taskin Ahmed emphasized the spirit of Ekushey, stating, “21 means protest, 21 means self-respect… Bangla is my pride, Bangla is my identity.”

Other cricketers also shared heartfelt tributes:

  • Soumya Sarkar noted that history written in blood can never be erased and described Ekushey as a symbol of existence and dignity.

  • Shariful Islam paid homage by recalling the sacrifice that secured the right to speak the mother tongue.

A Day of National Remembrance

Across Bangladesh, people from all walks of life — from state leaders to citizens — observed the day with tributes, reaffirming the enduring importance of linguistic identity and cultural heritage.

The messages from national cricketers echoed the collective sentiment of the country, highlighting how the spirit of the Language Movement continues to unite Bangladesh decades after the historic struggle.

END/SMA/AJ