Commemorating the language martyrs
Nazrul Islam | Thursday, 5 March 2009
EACH year Bangalis throughout the world observe the Language Martyrs Day on February 21, to commemorate the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952. The supreme sacrifice of the valiant heroes glorified Bangla language and culture and established Bangla as a state language of Pakistan long before our independence.
The sacrifice of the language martyrs sowed the dream of an independent Bangladesh deep in the Bangalis' hearts. In 1971 the freedom-loving Bangalis fulfilled the dream by creating an independent Bangladesh. The gallant freedom fighters achieved it at the cost of millions of lives through the Liberation War.
It was in recognition of the historic Language Martyrs Day that UNESCO declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. UNESCO did it to protect the vulnerable languages and cultures of the world. The addition of the day in the UNESCO calendar created a new chapter in the history of the mankind.
Now, Bangali culture is threatened by religious fundamentalists and war criminals. The principle of secularism is distorted in many ways.
The message of the Language Martyr's Day is to make Bangladesh prosperous and secular through the solidarity of the people, imbued by the spirit of Liberation War.
It is time to achieve dignity of Bangladesh and Bangla language and culture in the international arena by enhancing awareness of the significance of the International Mother Language Day throughout the world.
It is time to renew the solidarity among Bangalis, believing in the principles of Liberation War.
It is also time to honour all those, who dedicated their lives for Bangla language and creating an independent Bangladesh.
Every year on February 21 at 12:05 a.m. Bangladesh time, each and every Bangali, across the world, stop whatever he or she is doing, stand still, and maintain one minute's silence. Also, they wear a black badge at the time of silence. They take a break from whatever they are doing and maintain the silence in a group, individually or in a family at home, school, college, university, factory, farm, work, vacation, or on the journey.
The sacrifice of the language martyrs sowed the dream of an independent Bangladesh deep in the Bangalis' hearts. In 1971 the freedom-loving Bangalis fulfilled the dream by creating an independent Bangladesh. The gallant freedom fighters achieved it at the cost of millions of lives through the Liberation War.
It was in recognition of the historic Language Martyrs Day that UNESCO declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. UNESCO did it to protect the vulnerable languages and cultures of the world. The addition of the day in the UNESCO calendar created a new chapter in the history of the mankind.
Now, Bangali culture is threatened by religious fundamentalists and war criminals. The principle of secularism is distorted in many ways.
The message of the Language Martyr's Day is to make Bangladesh prosperous and secular through the solidarity of the people, imbued by the spirit of Liberation War.
It is time to achieve dignity of Bangladesh and Bangla language and culture in the international arena by enhancing awareness of the significance of the International Mother Language Day throughout the world.
It is time to renew the solidarity among Bangalis, believing in the principles of Liberation War.
It is also time to honour all those, who dedicated their lives for Bangla language and creating an independent Bangladesh.
Every year on February 21 at 12:05 a.m. Bangladesh time, each and every Bangali, across the world, stop whatever he or she is doing, stand still, and maintain one minute's silence. Also, they wear a black badge at the time of silence. They take a break from whatever they are doing and maintain the silence in a group, individually or in a family at home, school, college, university, factory, farm, work, vacation, or on the journey.