The port city observed International Mother Language Day and Amar Ekushey with profound solemnity, remembering the 1952 martyrs who sacrificed their lives to establish the dignity of the Bengali language.
The movement, ignited in 1948 by students protesting the imposition of Urdu, culminated on February 21, 1952. The blood of Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, and Shafiur not only secured linguistic rights but also sowed the seeds for the 1971 Liberation War. While UNESCO’s 1999 recognition turned this into a global celebration, the day remains a cornerstone of Bengali identity.
Commemorations began at the Central Shaheed Minar at 12:01 AM with a ceremonial police salute. City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, alongside Chittagong-9 MP Abu Sufian and Chittagong-8 MP Md. Ershad Ullah, laid the first wreaths. They were followed by Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia, and top police officials, including CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz.
At Chittagong University (CU), Vice-Chancellor Professor Yahya Akhtar led a morning procession (Prabhat Pheri) and paid floral tributes. During a discussion, the Vice-Chancellor noted with regret that the nation has yet to fully achieve its linguistic goals. While acknowledging the importance of global languages, he emphasized that the dignity of Bengali must be maintained in all official and educational sectors.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Shamim Uddin Khan added that while Bengali ranks sixth among the world's 7,500 languages, constant vigilance is required to preserve its purity against the growing trend of "Banglish" and linguistic distortion.
