Nation pays tributes to language martyrs

The supreme sacrifice of the language heroes on this day 69 years back is being remembered as people are paying glowing tributes to 1952 language martyrs by placing wreaths at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar at midnight maintaining health guidelines.

Military secretaries to the President and the Prime Minister placed wreaths on their behalf at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past zero hours.

The immortal song on Amar Ekushey–“Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February”- was playing on the loudspeaker on the occasion.

Later, sergeant-at-arms on behalf of Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on behalf of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and GM Quader on behalf of Leader of the Opposing in Parliament Begun Rowshan Ershad placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Among other AL leaders, presidiums members Matia Chowdhury and Faruk Khan and joint secretary and information minister Dr Hasan Mahmud also paid homage to the language movement martyrs.

Cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, parliament members, chiefs of three services, diplomats, freedom fighters, and high civil and military officials also placed wreathes on the occasion.

People representing different political and other organisations then thronged the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar to offer their floral tributes maintaining health guidelines.

Later, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Sector Commanders Forum, war-wounded freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War, different political parties and socio-cultural organisations paid their homage.

Later on, the Shaheed Minar was opened to the public when hundreds of people from all walks of life walked barefoot to it with flowers in hands and humming “Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February” to recall the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes on this day in 1952.