Dhaka, Feb 21: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the Language Martyrs in the first hours of International Mother Language Day, honouring those who sacrificed their lives for the right to speak Bangla.
At 12:00am on Friday night, President Mohammed Shahabuddin first placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar. Shortly afterward, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman laid floral tributes at the monument.
Following the wreath-laying, the Prime Minister joined thousands of people gathered at the Shaheed Minar in a prayer seeking eternal peace for the souls of the martyrs of the Language Movement.
After the munajat, he again paid respects alongside members of his cabinet and advisers. Leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) later offered their tributes as well.
Every year, people from all walks of life gather at the Central Shaheed Minar shortly after midnight on February 21 to commemorate the historic Language Movement of 1952, when students and activists were killed while demanding recognition of Bangla as a state language.
