Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman revealed special postage stamps to honor Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day. The stamps were launched at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, attended by ministers and officials. Prime Minister Rahman paid respects to the language martyrs by laying a wreath at the Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin also honored the martyrs by placing a wreath at the Shaheed Minar before the Prime Minister’s tribute. Following them, cabinet members and dignitaries offered floral wreaths. The leader of the Opposition, Shafiqur Rahman, paid tribute to the 1952 Language Movement martyrs by placing wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
Rumeen Farhana, an independent MP and former BNP leader, faced obstruction from paying tribute at Shaheed Minar. Allegedly, BNP leaders and activists prevented her from honoring the martyrs, leading to a blockade on the Dhaka–Sylhet highway by her supporters. The highway blockage caused a significant traffic jam until police intervened to restore order.
Bangladesh commemorates Language Martyrs’ Day to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the 1952 Language Movement for Bangla as the mother tongue. The movement, triggered by the deaths of Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar, and Barkat during a protest for Bangla’s recognition, eventually led to Bangladesh’s independence. The Pakistani government recognized Bangla as a state language on February 29, 1956, following the movement’s demands for political and cultural rights.
