Dhaka University (DU) has chalked out elaborate programmes to commemorate Shaheed Dibash (Martyrs' Day) and International Mother Language Day on February 21.

The national flag will fly half-mast on all major buildings at the university. Black flags will also be hoisted to observe the day.

Starting from the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture, a provat feri will be led by DU Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman at 6:30am.

DU senate and syndicate members, teachers, students, and staff will take part in it.

READ:  Route to Central Shahid Minar on 21st February

After offering prayers for the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 at the Azimpur graveyard, they will lay floral wreaths on the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar to pay their heartfelt tributes to the heroes.

However, everyone who wants to place floral wreaths on the main altar of the Central Shahid Minar will have to show the Covid vaccination certificate, Professor Akhtaruzzaman said on Saturday.

Special prayers will also be arranged for the language martyrs in all the mosques of the university after Zohr prayer.

Officially observed as Shaheed Dibash since the birth of Bangladesh, the 21st day of February got recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as International Mother Language Day in 1999.

On this day in 1952, students and youths in Dhaka took to the streets in protest against the then Pakistani government's denial of Bangla as the national language and imposition of Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.

Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil were killed in police firings as students came out in a procession from the DU campus, defying section 144 to press home their demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language of then Pakistan.

The subsequent mass upsurge made the government recognise Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan and later inspired the Bangalis in their struggle for autonomy, independence.