C T Online Desk: The people of the port city of Chittagong have paid homage to those who sacrificed their lives in front of the bullets of the Pakistani ruler for the state language Bengal.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury paid his last respects to the language martyrs with flowers at the Shaheed Minar built on the premises of Municipal School and College in the city on Monday (February 21).
Chittagong Divisional Commissioner paid tribute with flowers after the mayor. Ashraf Uddin, Chittagong Range DIG Anwar Hossain, CMP Commissioner Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman, Superintendent of Police SM Rashidul Haque. Muktijoddha Sangsad, PBI Chittagong Metro, PBI Chittagong District, Tourist Police, Industrial Police, PBI Chittagong District, Water Development Board, Railway Police, Chittagong District Ansar Commander, Fire Service, Chittagong Jail, Department of Environment, Director-Health, Muktijoddha Sontan Command. Senior officials of various government and non-government organizations paid their respects at the Shaheed Minar with flowers.
To pay homage to the martyrs, thousands of people stood in the line towards the Shaheed Minar with flowers in their hands before the clock struck 12 midnight. The Shaheed Minar was opened after paying homage to eminent persons.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the government has imposed some restrictions on paying homage to the Shaheed Minar. In accordance with the rules of health, a maximum of 5 delegates from each organization and a maximum of two at the individual level can lay wreaths at the Shaheed Minar. Besides, no one has been asked to enter the premises of Shaheed Minar without wearing a mask.
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, the law enforcement agencies have taken strict security measures at the central Shaheed Minar. According to law enforcement sources, there is no lack of security for the wreath-laying at the Shaheed Minar. In addition to the uniformed police, white-clad police, bomb disposal unit, DB, RAB, SWAT team, dog squad and crime scene unit have been deployed.
On 21 February 1952, Salam, Rafiq, Barkat, Shafiur and many others were shot dead by the police at the behest of the Pakistani ruling class in a procession of students protesting for making Bengali the state language.
Bengali was then recognized as one of the state languages by the then Pakistani ruling class. Bangladesh’s independence came through armed struggle in 1971 as a continuation of the language movement.
