Staff Reporter:
The Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad observed Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day with reverence and solemnity on Wednesday (21 February).
The day was marked by officers and employees of the High Commission wearing black badges, the ceremonial lowering of the national flag to half-mast at the embassy premises, wreath-laying at the temporary Shaheed Minar, speeches, discussions, the screening of videos on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Language Movement, and special prayers.
The embassy premises were adorned with banners commemorating Martyr’s Day, Bangla alphabet displays, and Language Day posters. A temporary Shaheed Minar was erected on the embassy premises to pay tribute to the memory of the language martyrs.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Md. Ruhul Alam Siddiqui, along with all the officers and employees of the High Commission and children, placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar. The gathering sang the Ekushey song, and speeches of President and Prime Minister were read aloud.
The High Commissioner paid deep respect to the sacrifices of the language martyrs on February 21st to establish the rights of the mother tongue, Bengali.
He also paid tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, highlighting the significance of the language movement in the history of Bangladesh’s freedom struggle.
The High Commissioner emphasised that the language movement laid the foundation for a non-sectarian, democratic, language-based state system.
The program ended with children reciting poems and performing songs in memory of the language martyrs.
