DHAKA: The nation is set to observe the 62nd Martyrs` Day on Thursday to commemorate the Language Movement martyrs through various programmes.
Amar Ekushey (February 21) will also be marked as International Mother Language Day worldwide from 12:01am.
Thousands of people from all walks of life and ages will walk barefoot to the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the Language Movement heroes. They will sing the February 21 anthem: Amar bhayer rokte rangano ekushey February.
All the diplomats and leaders of political parties will follow the national leaders in placing wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar in the city.
Social, cultural, academic and professional bodies and individuals will also pay floral homage to the martyrs on the eve of the mournful anniversary of the 21st February tragedy at the climax of the 1952 Language Movement.
Various socio-cultural organisations have chalked out various programmes to mark the day.
The Central Shaheed Minar has put on a somberly decorative look to mark the great national occasion that has been transcended onto the universal plane for its importance to all the ethnic groups.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Safiur and other brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives this day in 1952 to establish Bangla as a state language of the then Pakistan. Since then, the day has been observed as the Language Martyrs` Day.
In 2000, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) declared the day as the International Mother Language Day.
FEB 20, 2013
