The Bengali nation on Sunday observed the ‘Amar Ekushey’--the Language Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Day) and the International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner, marking the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes for upholding the right to speak in their mother tongue Bangla.

Humming the tune "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February", thousands of people thronged Shaheed Minars across the country as well as different parts in the world to pay tributes to the Language Movement heroes despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Bare-footed and wearing black-badges, they placed floral wreaths at the monuments and stood silent in remembrance of those who embraced martyrdom to make Bangla the state language in 1952.

The environment reverberated with the Ekushey anthem as the hallowed monuments got slowly covered with flowers. Areas around the monuments wore a festive look with murals, graffiti, and street paintings comprising Bangla alphabets and verses on mother languages.

The day is also being observed worldwide as the International Mother Language Day. In 1999, the UNESCO declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.

Taking part in different programmes, including discussions and cultural sessions across the country and in Bangladesh missions abroad, people recalled the sacrifice made by the Language Movement martyrs.

On February 21 in 1952, students and people from all walks of life took to the streets in Dhaka to protest the then Pakistan government's refusal to recognise Bangla as one of the state languages and imposition of Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.

Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar, Shafiur and a few others were killed when police opened fire on their procession.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have 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 at one minute past midnight Sunday night.

President’s Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam was the first to lay the wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar. Just after him, Prime Minister’s Military Secretary Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury placed the wreath at the Shaheed Minar. They proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together in slow pace as the immortal song on Amar Ekushey–“Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February”– was playing. They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the Language Heroes.

Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, parliament members, chiefs of the armed forces, senior Awami League leaders, freedom fighters, foreign diplomats, civil and military officials were also present on the occasion.

Generally the President and the Prime Minister lead the nation to pay homage to the Language Movement Heroes by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past zero hours.

But they could not go to the Central Shaheed Minar this year to pay homage to the Language Heroes due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, Sergeant at Arms Commodore Miah Mohammad Nayeem Rahman placed a wreath on behalf of Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

Besides, Senior Awami League leaders, including General Secretary Obaidul Quader, presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Lt Col (Rtd) Faruk Khan, Joint Secretary Hasan Mahmud, and Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, also paid tributes on behalf of Sheikh Hasina as she is the president of the party.

Also, chiefs of the armed forces, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, Jatiya Party Chairman and leader of the opposition GM Quader, Education Minister Dipu Moni, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party Director General Maj Gen Mizanur Rahman Shameem, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries and chiefs of international agencies, members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee, members of Dhaka University Alumni Association, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, wounded Freedom Fighters of Muktijodd