This will be an Amar Ekushey unlike anything Bangladesh has seen. No more than five persons will be allowed to pay tributes to language martyrs on this Feb 21 under a single banner as the country fights to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Other than various organisations, two persons at a time will be allowed to pay respects at the Shaheed Minar.

The International Mother Language Day is celebrated on February 21 every year. On this day in 1952, Bangalees laid down their lives to secure their right to speak in their mother tongue.

Millions of people across Bangladesh and the world pay rich tributes to the martyrs on this day. But this year the situation is different because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

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The decision to limit the number of people came from a meeting of Dhaka University's Environmental Council in presence of active student organisations of the campus on Monday. The meeting was held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman presided over it, according to a press release issued by the university.

Everyone has to follow health rules, maintain social distance and wear a mask while paying tributes to the language heroes.

Also read: Ekushey Book Fair could begin at venue before February 21

DU residential halls opening Mar 13

The meeting also discussed the university’s preparedness to open-up its dormitories on March 13. Only MA and honours final-year residential students will get the opportunity to stay in halls on a priority basis in line with their exam schedules. They have to leave the dormitories as soon as their examination is over.

DU VC Akhtaruzzaman sought the cooperation of the leaders of various student organisations to implement these initiatives in a smooth, orderly and systematic way. Leaders of the different student organisations thanked the university authorities for taking these initiatives and assured their cooperation in this regard.

Also read: BNP chalks out 2-day programme to mark Feb 21

Among others, Pro-VC (Administration) Dr Muhammad Samad, Treasurer Mumtaz Uddin Ahmed, Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani, Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) President Md Rahmat Ullah, general secretary Md Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan and leaders of various student organisations operating on the campus were also present in the meeting.