Bangladesh missions remember 1952 Language Movement martyrs

The Bangladesh missions abroad have paid tribute to the Language Movement martyrs who sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as a state language in the then East Pakistan in 1952.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 Feb 2018, 07:19 PM
Updated : 22 Feb 2018, 07:19 PM

The day, Feb 21, is also being commemorated worldwide as International Mother Language Day after UNESCO’s recognition in 1999.

The national flag was kept at half-mast and wreaths were placed at the makeshift Shaheed Minars in respect for the martyrs.

Discussions, video screening, cultural show and reading out of the messages from the president, the prime minister, the foreign minister and the state minister for foreign affairs were some of the highlights of the observance.

Special prayers were also offered for those who lost their lives for establishing the rights of the mother language.

Members of expatriate Bangladeshi community, officials and mission staff joined the daylong events.

In London, High Commissioner Md Nazmul Quaunine led the ceremony by laying a wreath at the Shaheed Minar in East London’s Altab Ali Park. Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs also paid his respects.

Ambassador M Allama Siddiki highlighted the significance of the day in Turkey.

High commissions of India and Canada, and embassies of Congo, Colombia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Sudan and Ankara State Classical Turkish Music Choir performed in their own languages in the cultural event at the Bangladesh embassy.

High Commissioner in Pakistan Tarik Ahsan organised a competition on the Bengali language for the children at the chancery.

He highlighted the history of the struggle to establish the right of Bengalis to use their mother language and paid rich tribute to the language martyrs.