Tributes paid to language martyrs

The nation is paying homage today to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement. Tens of thousands of people from across the broad spectrum of society gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, the memorial for the 1952 Language Movement martyrs to pay glowing tributes as the spirit of that uprising reverberates across the country 62 years on. At one minute past midnight, they joined the political leaders, diplomats and social and cultural activists to pay their respects to those who had laid down their lives protesting the imposition of Urdu as the only language of Pakistan. President Md Abdul Hamid was the first to pay his tribute at 12:01 on Friday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid her respects after him. She walked to the memorial’s altar twice – once with the members of her Cabinet and then with her party colleagues as Awami League President. Then Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad and many others followed Hasina in paying their tributes to the martyrs. However, the BNP alleged that Chairperson Khaleda Zia had failed to go to Shaheed Minar to pay her respects in the first hour due to police ‘obstruction’. Later, around 1:00am, former prime minister and also the leader of the BNP-led 19 opposition parties paid her tributes by placing wreaths at the Sheheed Minar along with senior party leaders. After the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries paid their respects, the Shaheed Minar was opened to all and soon it was a sea of flowers with thousands placing wreaths and many more waiting for their turn. People had thronged the Shaheed Minar premises and streets leading to the memorials for the martyred of the great language movement all over Bangladesh since late Thursday night. Many from different parts of Dhaka and its outskirts will come to pay their tributes as well on Friday noon, according to bdnews24.com.