Thaindian News

Dhaka, Feb 21 (IANS) One man was killed and several other people were injured in two incidents of violence Sunday which marred Bangladesh’s ‘Amar Ekushey February’ commemoration of the language movement.
The man died and eight other people were injured in a clash between Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists over placing wreaths in Sonaimuri upazila (sub-district) of Noakhali early Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Mohammed Shah Alam, 42, the daily Prothom Alo reported.

Local officials of both parties claimed that Shah Alam was their party activist.

The clash ensued between the activists of the two parties over who would be the first to place wreaths at the Shaheed Minar, the martyrs’ column.

In the other incident, at least 23 people including three police personnel were injured during a clash between two factions of the ruling Awami League during wreath placing at Gobindaganj.

Police said supporters of Gaibandha-4 MP Manwar Hossain Chowdhury and Gobindaganj upazila chairman Abul Kalam Azad got locked into the clash following failure to decide who would first place the wreaths.

The clash flared up as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, joined the two-and-half hours battle.

The day commemorates the language movement, when students fought the then Pakistani regime to get official status for Bengali language 58 years ago.

The ‘Amar Ekushey February’ (My February 21) is also the International Mother Language Day that Bangladeshis observe every year.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar three minutes past midnight.

Flanked by party colleagues, opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also placed wreaths.

Areas adjacent to the Shaheed Minar on Dhaka University campus have had a facelift on the occasion, while roads and medians have been festooned with Bangla alphabets and the national flag.

Members of various political, socio-cultural and professional organisations and the general public paid their homage. The day is a public holiday. The national flag has been hoisted at half-mast atop all government, autonomous and private buildings.

On this day in 1952, Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and some other bravehearts laid down their lives for recognition of Bangla as an official language.

The language movement was the forerunner of the nationalist movement that culminated in the Liberation War in 1971, which won the nation independence.

The government of the then Pakistan granted Bangla the status of official language in 1956.

In 2000, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) declared Feb 21 as International Mother Language Day.