Staff Reporter: Paying deep homage to the memory of heroic martyrs of the language movement, the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC celebrated the great “Martyrs’ Day” and “International Mother Language Day” on Sunday with due dignity. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Sahidul Islam inaugurated the day’s program by laying a wreath at the altar of Shaheed Minar at the embassy premises at 12:01 pm. Following him, all the officials and employees of the embassy and their family members laid wreaths at the altar. At this time the song ‘Amar bhaiyer rakte rangano Ekushey February, Ami ki bhulite pari’ was played.
Afterwards, Ambassador laid a wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and observed a moment of silence in homage to his memory. Officials and staff of the embassy were present on the occasion. In his speech at the Bangabandhu Auditorium, Ambassador Sahidul Islam said that the Bengali nation has given birth to an unprecedented event in the history of the world by giving its life for the language. In recognition of the Bengali nation’s sacrifice for the mother tongue in 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day, which was later ratified by the UN General Assembly. February 21 is now being celebrated all over the world as International Mother Language Day. On this day all languages are being respected.
“Wherever the world has followed our path, let us not be reluctant to show due respect to our own language and culture,” he said.
After that the messages of the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister were read. Embassy Minister (Economic) Md. Mehedi Hasan, Defense Attachচে Brigadier General M Moinul Hasan, Minister (Political) Dewan Ali Ashraf and Minister (Consular) Mohammad Habibur Rahman read out the messages respectively.
First Secretary and Chancery Chief Md. Mahmudul Islam conducted the activities of the day. Finally, special prayers were offered for the forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs and for the continued development and prosperity of Bangladesh.
BP/SM
