Staff Correspondent
The nation pays homage to the martyrs of the language movement one minute past midnight today amid heightened security at and around the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on the occasion of Amar Ekushey.
The president, Zillur Rahman, will first place flowers at the Central Shaheed Minar followed by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, other ministers, high commissioners, ambassadors and the chiefs of the foreign missions.
On February 21, 1952, a number of students campaigning for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan were killed in police firing.
Ekushey February has also been observed as International Mother Language Day every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism after a proclamation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s general conference in November 1999.
The authorities have heightened security around the Shaheed Minar with an increased deployment of law enforcers.
The university authorities have imposed restrictions on traffic through the campus which will remain in force between 6:00pm Friday and 2:00pm Saturday.
The residents of the university areas at Nilkhet and on Fuller Road have been requested to enter the campus through Nilkhet. No vehicle without security stickers will be allowed on the campus during the period.
They have also asked organisations not to hold any programmes near the Shaheed Minar during the Ekushey observance.
The University of Dhaka is conducting the observance of Amar Ekushey. A number of student volunteers have been enlisted for the purpose.
The vice-chancellor, AAMS Arefin Siddique, urged the people to keep law and order. He urged all to follow the route plan worked out by the university.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has taken up steps to control traffic and people’s movement between 6:00pm Monday and 2:00pm Tuesday for the observance of Ekushey February.
The movement of all types of vehicles will remain suspended on the roads between 6:00pm Friday and 2:00pm Saturday.
Students and teachers of Dhaka University will bring out a procession at 6:30am on Saturday and place flowers at the Shaheed Minar.
The Awami League’s programmes for the day include placing flowers at Central Shaheed Minar just after midnight, hoisting the national and party flags at half-mast at all offices office of the Awami League and its associate bodies and Bangabandhu Bhaban, and hoisting black flag at 6:30am.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party will place flowers at the Shaheed Minar at 6:00am Saturday. The party will hold a discussion at the Institution of Engineers at 3:00pm today.
Courtesy of www.newagebd.com
