Banglareye

International Mother Language Day

The nation to immortalize 21st February has termed this day as ‘Amar Ekushay’ (immortal 21st) and commemorates its historical significance by observing it with due solemnity paying tribute and homage to the sons of soil for their heroic sacrifice to uphold the dignity of mother tongue. The Amar Ekushay extents into what is popularly known as the ‘Shaheed Day’ (Martyrs Day) that reflects upon the language movement on 21st February and the grand scale uprising to establish the due position of Bengali as the official language of the country.

As the clock strikes 00:00 hours, the Honourable President and Prime Minister begin the procession of the nation that pays its tribute to the martyrs at the Shaheed Minars (Monuments for Martyrs) all over the country. People from all walks of life wearing black badges and bare footed throng at the Shaheed Minar to show their respect to the sons of the soil. The children, youth, young and old, men and women walk towards the Shaheed Minar singing "Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February Ami Ki Bhulite Pari" (21 February a day immersed in the blood of my brothers, can I ever forget it). The mass of people at every corner of the country lay wreaths of flower as a token of their respect and pledge a fresh vow to translate the dreams of the martyrs into reality towards establishing a democratic order, of a society free from exploitation and of economic emancipation of the nation.
 

                                                            Source: Prof Rafiqul Islam.
                                     Rally of female students in front of DMC on 4.02.1952



                                                             Source: Bangabandhu Foundation
              Rally on 21.02.1954 by Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman                                                              marching barefoot to pay their tributes.

A central coordinating committee draws up an official program for the observance of 21st February. Accordingly, the Honourable President of the country is the first to place wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight, followed by the Prime Minister and other ministers. The Shaheed Minar and its surroundings are decorated with Alpana (traditional painting on the roads), banners and festoons. Different political, educational, government, private, socio-cultural and professional organizations chalk out elaborate programs for the day that consists of placing wreaths, cultural functions and discussion sessions. The day is a public holiday and the national flag flies at half-mast atop all government and private buildings. Starting from midnight till the end of last hour of February 21, the central Shaheed Minar stands in glory in the midst of thousands of people and enormous flower wreaths.


Its significance transcends from language movement to symbolize the struggle for emancipation from the oppression of the oppressors. Through the sombre but intrinsically native observance the day continues to define the national and cultural identity that set Bengalis apart as a nation of independent people. It stands as a monumental pride for Bangladeshis who refused to accept domination and culminates into their victory for the mother language and the map of Bangladesh in the globe.


21 February was proclaimed the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.[1]

International Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of Dhaka university students were killed by the Pakistani police and army in Dhaka during the Bengali Language Movement.

International Mother Language Day is observed yearly by UNESCO member states and at its headquarters to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.



Annual themes

The observances of International Year of Languages tend to have a theme, indicated either in the formal program set for observance at UNESCO headquarters, or more explicitly in the publicity.[3]
2000, Inaugural celebration of International Mother Language Day
2001, Second annual celebration
2002, Linguistic Diversity: 3,000 Languages in Danger (slogan: In the galaxy of languages, every word is a star)
2003, Fourth annual celebration
2004, Children's learning (the observance at UNESCO included "a unique exhibition of children’s exercise books from around the world illustrating the process by which children learn and master the use of written literacy skills in the classroom"[4])
2005, Braille and Sign languages
2006, Languages and Cyberspace
2007, Multilingual education
2008, International Year of Languages
2009,
2010, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures

The Brave Martyrs for Bengali 



The exact number of death in the Language Movement and especially on the day of 21st February has never been recovered. This was due to the government’s effort to conceal the actual numbers of casualties and to control the consequences and reactions of the aftermath. Several witnesses confirmed that the police picked up some dead bodies from the streets. At midnight, soldiers of the Pakistan Army seized some bodies from the Morgue at Dhaka Medical College. The bodies left at the morgue were not counted then and this also included the injured people who died at the hospital later.
However, during the midst of the curfew, two brave students of Dhaka Medical College dared to follow army personnel who had seized some bodies. As a result, the graves of those martyrs were discovered and till today, we are able to continue to pay our respects to the fallen who were buried in Azimpur graveyard.

 Now this time Shadie Menar Look's like in this Photo