People from all walks of life thronged at the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the Language Martyrs on the occasion of Amar Ekushey February, International Mother Language Day, and Great Martyrs' Day.
From early Saturday morning, representatives of various political parties, organisations and educational institutions gathered on the Shaheed Minar premise and laid wreaths.
The Ekhusey programme began with placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at 12:01AM. People wearing black badges also paid rich tribute at the graves of the language heroes by placing wreaths.
The day is being observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the 'February 21 (Ekushey February)' as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
President Mohammad Shahabuddin paid tribute by placing a wreath around 12:01AM. At 12:08AM, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman followed with a floral tribute. Members of the cabinet were present with him.
Later, wreaths were placed on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Zia family.
On February 21, 1952, police opened fire on students and activists demanding that Bangla be recognised as a state language of then Pakistan. Abdus Salam, Abdul Jabbar, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Barkat, Shafiur Rahman and others were killed in the crackdown.
