Nation set to pay homage to martyrs to language

The nation pays homage to the martyrs of the language movement as the clock strikes one minute past midnight today amid heightened security at and around the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on the occasion of Amar Ekushey, which is also International Mother Language Day, reports NewAgebd.
The president, Zillur Rahman, is expected to place flowers at the Central Shaheed Minar first, followed by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, other ministers, leaders of political parties, high commissioners and ambassadors and the chiefs of the foreign missions in Bangladesh.
Ekushey February marks the incident in which a number of students campaigning for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan were killed in police firing on February 21, 1952.
Ekushey February has 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 a reinforced deployment of law enforcers. The Dhaka University authorities have imposed restrictions on traffic through the campus which will remain in force between 6:00pm Saturday and 2:00pm Sunday.
The University of Dhaka is conducting the observance of Amar Ekushey. A number of student volunteers have also been enlisted for the purpose.
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 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 Saturday and 2:00pm Sunday 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 the Central Shaheed Minar just after midnight, hoisting the national and party flags at half-mast at all offices of the Awami League and its associate bodies and at 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.
The Bangladesh Cultural Council will hold a children’s painting contest at the Shishu Academy at 10:00am today on the occasion Amar Ekushey.
Bangladesh Sangskritikarmi Sangha will bring out a procession marking International Mother Language Day from the Teachers-Students Centre on the university campus carrying the national flags of other countries and alphabets of different languages.
Sammilita Sangskritik Jote began its three-day programmes at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi on Friday.
The Dhaka city unit Workers Party of Bangladesh will hold a discussion marking Amar Ekushey in front of the party’s office at 4:30pm today.
The Mainia Foundation will hold discussion in the seminar room of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh at 3:00pm today.
The Dhaka Reporter’s Unity will place flowers at the Central Shaheed Minar early Sunday.

Courtesy of NewAgebd