Bangladesh observes Int'l Mother Language Day

DHAKA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- People in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, and other parts of the country paid tributes on Saturday to those who sacrificed their lives in the 1952 Language Movement.

At one minute past midnight for the special day, Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman laid wreaths at the country's Central Shaheed Minar, a solemn and iconic monument, in Dhaka.

After local and foreign dignitaries placed wreaths at the monument, it was opened to the public.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life thronged to it to lay wreaths and bouquets to show their deep respect for the people of Bangladesh who sacrificed their lives on this day in 1952 to promote Bangla as the state language of then East Pakistan.

As part of the commemoration activities, Bangladeshi people, not just in the capital city but also elsewhere in the country, which became independent in 1971, also placed floral wreaths at thousands of monuments across the country.

In 1999, UNESCO declared Feb. 21 as International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.■