Nation recalls language heroes

Thousands of people clad in black and white dresses especially traditional sharees and panjabees, who thronged the Central Shaheed Minar here since midnight to pay their glowing tributes to the 1952 language martyrs, also demanded for launching the Bangla at everywhere.

Considering the prevailing COVID-19 situation and following the proper hygiene, however, a maximum of five-member delegate from each organization and a maximum of two persons at the individual level were allowed to lay wreaths at the Shaheed Minar, BSS reports.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid their glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement on the occasion of Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day.

On behalf of the President and the Prime Minister, their military secretaries paid the homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar here at one minute past zero hours while the immortal song on Amar Ekushey-“Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February”- was being played on the loudspeaker.

They military secretaries stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.

Later, on behalf of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, sergeant-at-arms of the Parliament Secretariat and on behalf of JS Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, assistant sergeant-at-arms; on behalf of Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, senior army officials, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.

On behalf of Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, its Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury paid homage to the language martyrs placing a wreath at the Shaheed Minar.