Dhaka: Fagun comes and goes again. The red blood-stained black peak blooms on the top of the sky. The red color of that black peak falling in the storm reminds us of Ekushey. Of February 21, 1952 the day this path was stained with the blood of Rafiq-Jabbar-Barkat. The trend of not bowing down that day through blood, the right to speak in one's mother tongue, will continue throughout the world forever.
The outpouring of respect from the public at the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday (February 21), the urge to save the day on their own initiative, the spontaneous participation of all people, from children to the elderly, men and women, regardless of religion or caste, unites us and reminds us of Bengal, of my mother tongue.
Such was the expression on the faces of all those people who had gathered since morning. They remembered the martyrs with respect. They resolved to preserve their mother tongue. Speaking about the freedom to speak in one's mother tongue. The hope is that not only Bengalis but every person in the world will become the owner of their mother and mother's language.
Businessman Omar Sunny left Mirpur at 6 am to pay tribute to the Central Shaheed Minar. He is not alone, he brought his wife Munni Akhtar and two daughters Munzerin and Tasmim with him.
Omar Sunny told Barta24.com, "We are 24 by holding the hand of 21. That day, the consciousness of demanding the right to our mother tongue was awakened in us with the same consciousness. I came here with my family to introduce myself to the struggle that has been going on for ages to achieve our rights. I paid tribute to those soldiers who achieved our rights.
Russell Sabbir, who observes this day every year by paying tribute to the martyrs in the morning, brought his daughter Raisa Tanzim with him. He said that the movement for each nation to retain its own language was spread to the world on this day in 1952 with their blood by Rafiq, Salam, Jabbar and Barkat. The Bengali language is a very rich language. The expression and sweetness of this language are incomparable. If we can present this language correctly in front of the world, then our status as a nation will increase.
Not only the common people, but also politicians, civil society, teachers, intellectuals, all have the same words. About equality, about non-discrimination, about a democratic country and rights.
Rajequzzaman Ratan, Assistant General Secretary of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-BSD, said that the language movement of 1952 was democratic. The Urdu language of 7 percent of the people will not be imposed on 56 percent of the people. The spirit of 1952 was where there would be no discrimination due to religion, caste or color. A culture was created at the Shaheed Minar where everyone can pay homage in memory of Ekushey. In continuation of that, 71, 90 and 24 came. The demand there is a democratic, discrimination-free country.
Regarding this ongoing struggle to realize rights from 1952 to 24, Maleka Banu, General Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said that the democratic struggle is an ongoing process. As long as it takes, we will continue this struggle. We have stumbled at various times, but we have not stopped. We have to walk this path; we have to fight this struggle. We cannot say that we have reached the pinnacle of success. We have stumbled, but the struggle will continue.
After the 24 mass uprising, the same words are being heard in everyone's voice. It is about moving forward in the spirit of the language movement. Not just 52, 71 or 24 but about weaving the movement for the realization of human rights into the same thread. It is about building a society without discrimination and taking the country forward in unity.
