DHAKA, Jan 5, 2015 (BSS) - The government has drawn up an elaborate programme to observe the immortal Ekushey February and International Mother Language Day on February 21 in a befitting manner.
The programme was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting convened by the Cultural Affairs' Ministry here today.
Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, presided over the meeting held at Shilpakala Academy.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Dr Ranjit Kumar Biswas, Director General of Shilpakala Academy Liakat Ali Lucky, Director General of National Museum FayzulLlatif Chowdhury were present at the meeting.
Representatives of Dhaka University, Dhaka City Corporation, Foreign Ministry, Mass Communication Department, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, RAB, DGFI, NSI, Air Force, Cabinet Division, Bangla Academy, Lok Shilpa Foundation and Jadughar joined the meeting.
According to the programme, the day will be a public holiday. After one minute past midnight, people of all walks of life will pay tribute to the Language Martyrs by placing wreath at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka and other Shaheed Minars across the country.
The national flag will be hoisted half-mast on all government, semi-government and autonomous organization buildings as well as private establishments including schools, colleges, universities and other education institutions.
Important road islands of Dhaka city will be decorated by festoons with Bengali alphabets. Arrangement will also be made for necessary lighting of the roads leading to Azimpur Graveyard from the Central Shaheed Minar on the night of February 21.
Special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship. Offering of Fateha and Qurankhwani will be held at Azimpur Graveyard to pray for eternal peace of the departed souls of the Language Movement Heroes.
Newspapers will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day. Besides, BTV, Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and other TV channels, and radio stations will publish and air special programmes.
The day will be observed at Bangladesh missions abroad through various programmes. Memorial meetings on the Language Martyrs, seminars, cultural functions, recitation from poems and handwriting competition will also be held marking the day.
Speaking on the occasion, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzamn Noor called upon all concerned to work together to observe the day smoothly. He also directed the law-enforcing agencies to remain alert in maintaining law and order across the country.
The Immortal Ekushey was recognized as the International Mother Language Day as the then Awami League government took a timely step at the Special Assembly of the UNESCO on November 17 in 1999.
The member countries of UNESCO will also observe the day as the "International Mother Language Day" in recognition of the Bengali nation's supreme sacrifice to the cause of the mother tongue.
