International Mother Language Day is celebrated with due dignity in West Bengal – 2024-02-22 20:01:07

International Mother Language Day and Great Martyr’s Day are being celebrated in West Bengal including Kolkata with due dignity. On this occasion, on Wednesday (21st February), a series of programs were taken by the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata. This morning, the national flag of Bangladesh was lowered to half-mast in the premises of the Sub-High Commission. The morning ferry was then taken out in front of the Bangladesh Library and Information Center located at 3, Suhrawardy Avenue, Kolkata.

Apart from Deputy High Commission officials, many people participated in this morning procession with colorful posters and flower garlands. Chanting ‘Ekushey February, dyed in my brother’s blood, can I forget it’, the Prabhatferi returned to the premises of Sub-High Commission through Kolkata’s Park Circus Seven Point Crossing, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road.

Later Deputy High Commissioner Andalib Ilyas, First Secretary (Press) Ranjan Sen, First Secretary (Trade) Shamsul Arif, First Secretary (Visa) Almas Hossain and other officials paid tribute to all the martyrs by laying wreaths at the Shaheed Minar located in the mission premises. At the same time, the embassy officials paid tribute to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the ‘Mujib Manch’ of the mission premises.

Morning ferry of Bangladesh Sub-High Commission in Kolkata on the occasion of 21 February

Apart from Deputy High Commissioner officials, Indo-Bangla Press Club, Kolkata Press Club, India-Bangladesh Friendship Association, Bangladesh Biman and Sonali Bank paid tribute to language martyrs separately by placing flowers on the martyr’s altar. Later, a speech reading and discussion meeting was organized by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on the occasion of this day in the mission premises. Besides, a seminar and cultural program is scheduled to be organized in the mission premises in the afternoon. The officials of the embassy located in Kolkata will be present there.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on social media, ‘Bangla is the water of my thirst’, wishing her on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. The Information and Culture Department of the West Bengal State Government will celebrate this day at Deshapriya Park in Kolkata this afternoon. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, several ministers of the state, members of parliament and MLAs will be present there.

On the occasion of Great Martyrs’ Day and International Language Day, an organization called ‘Bhasa O Chetna Samiti’ organized an all-night program on Monday (February 19). Drama, Baul Sangeet and Folk Festival were held at the Ranuchaya stage in front of Rabindrasdan Lagoa Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata from Tuesday afternoon. Artists from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Bangladesh also participated in the festival. The event ended on Wednesday morning with a morning ferry.

Meanwhile, one of the land ports on the India-Bangladesh border is the zero point of Petrapol-Benapole. There too, the representatives of the two countries and language lovers paid tribute to the portraits of language martyrs in the area adjacent to Petrapol port under the initiative of Bangaon Municipality.

International Mother Language Day was also celebrated at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. On Wednesday, in the university premises, the students of other languages, including India-Bangladesh, also participated in the morning procession of 21 February by singing Bengali songs in a united voice.

Keeping this special day in mind, ‘Amar Ekushe’ is being celebrated with due dignity in all the districts and subdivisions of West Bengal. Besides, all schools, colleges, universities, clubs, public and private institutions of the state are also celebrating this day with special status.

DD/SAH