People from all walks of life are paying tribute to the martyrs of the language movement at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. They are expressing their respect by walking barefoot in neat rows and carrying flowers. Many people are wearing the symbolic black-and-white attire associated with this day. The space in front of Shaheed Minar has been covered with flowers.
Marking the first hour of Amar Ekushey February and International Mother Language Day, the tributes began at 12:01 am today, Saturday, and continued till just before Sehri. Then at 6:30 am, people from all walks of life resumed paying homage by taking out the traditional ‘Probhat Pheri’ procession.
Various educational institutions, government and private organizations as well as social, cultural and political bodies have already paid tribute with ‘Prabhat Pheri’ procession.
Among the institutions that paid floral tributes were Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), BUET Teachers Association, Central Committee of Jatiyatabadi Tati Dal, Bishwo Shahito Kendro, Dhaka South City BNP, Salimullah Muslim Hall of Dhaka University, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Dhaka City South Jubo Dal, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) and Socialist Students Front, among others.
Those who paid tribute included Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan, BNP Vice President Abdus Salam, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Central Committee General Secretary Nurul Islam, Members of Parliament Ishraq Hossain and Habibur Rashid.
Extensive security measures have been taken around the central Shaheed Minar area to ensure security during the tribute ceremony.