The flower growers and traders of Jashore’s Jhikargaccha upazila, one of the largest flower markets of Bangladesh, expect to sell flowers worth Tk 70 crore in the month of February as flower is a must-have in the celebration Pahela Falgun, Valentines’ Day and observance of Amar Ekushey. Flower growers are passing a busy day in nurturing their flowers ahead of the three events in the country. They also hope that that they will be able to sell flowers worth Tk 100 crore ahead of Pahela Falgun and Valentines’ Day on February 14, International Mother Language Day on February 21, Bangabandhu’s Birth Anniversary on March 17, Independence Day on March 26 Pahela Baishakh on April 14. Gadkhali and Panisara areas of Jhikargachha upazila have taken a colorful look with flowers everywhere where the farmers are nurturing their flowers to catch the markets. Read: Best Valentine's Day Destinations: 10 Stunning Resorts Around Dhaka   Different species of flowers including rose, jarbera, gladiolus, tube-rose, marigold, lilium, gypsy, chandramallika are cultivated in Jashore. Pervez, a flower grower of Syedpara in the upazila, said he brought five bighas of land under marigold cultivation and two bighas under tube-rose cultivation. “Now I am spending busy time nurturing my flowers as I have to catch the flower markets. I also used vitamins and pesticides in my flower garden to keep these free from pest attack,” he said. Qurban Ali, another flower grower of Panisara village, said “I have brought over two bighas of land under rose cultivation. The demand for roses increased on Valentine's Day. There are new buds on the rose plants now. I am spraying vitamins so that they are not damaged. The price of flowers will increase before Valentine's Day, I hope.” Already one stick of rose is being sold at Tk 25-30 per piece at retail level, he said. At retail level, Jerbera is being sold at Tk 8-10 per piece, rose at Tk 15-16 per piece, gladiolus at Tk 15-17 per piece, tube-rose at Tk 12, 1000 pieces merigold at Tk 200-250, gypsy Tk 10 per piece, 100 pieces chandramallika at Tk 500, china rose at Tk 25-26 per piece, but the price of flowers will increase three times ahead of the festivals, he said. Read more: A festival of flowers in Chattogram

The nation is set to observe 'Amar Ekushey', the Language Martyr's Day (Shaheed Day) and the International Mother Language Day on Tuesday, marking the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes for upholding the dignity of mother tongue Bangla. The day will also be observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the Ekushey February as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999. The theme of International Mother Language Day 2023 is "Multilingual education- a necessity to transform education". Walking barefoot to Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar with wreaths and flowers singing 'Amar bhaiyer rokte rangano Ekushey February', people from all walks of life will pay their respect to the heroes of the Language Movement who sacrificed their lives for achieving the recognition of Bangla as the state language of erstwhile Pakistan. On February 21, 1952, students and the common people 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 on this day in 1952 when students came out in a procession from the Dhaka University campus breaching section 144 to press home their demand for the recognition of Bangla as a state language of then Pakistan. The day is a public holiday. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the eve of the day. In his message the president said “The spirit of Amar Ekushey is now the incessant source of inspiration for protecting own languages and culture of peoples of different languages in the world. But we have to be more diligent in proper practice and preservation of Bengali language and culture. With the blessings of information technology, we are now the inhabitants of a single global village. Therefore, to maintain pace of advancement with the developed world, our present generation has to attain necessary skills in different languages which are recognized as international communication media.” Also read; No possibility of terrorist attack on 21st February: DMP Commissioner “I believe that observing the International Mother Language Day will play a positive role in the development and preservation of our own language as well as in building a sustainable future through multilingual education - this is our expectation,” he said. “Embracing the spirit of Amar Ekushey, let mutual respect be awakened among the people of different languages and cultures of the world, let a colorful world without discrimination be developed - it is my expectation on Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day,” he added. In her message the Prime Minister said, “Bengali nationalism was established through the language movement. Following the ideals of Bengali nationalism and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib we have made Bangladesh a role model for development in the world in the last 14 years. We will transform the country into Smart Bangladesh by 2041- building Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Economy, and Smart Society,” “In addition, we are also implementing Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100. I firmly believe that we will be able to establish the developed, prosperous, and self-esteemed ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as the Father of the Nation dreamed,” she said. Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq on Sunday said that there is no possibility of terrorist attack on the Language Martyr's Day or International Mother Language Day as DMP has taken all necessary preparations to ensure security. “We have brought the entire area from Palashi to Doel Chattar under CCTV cameras’ surveillance to ensure security. The area will be monitored by CCTV cameras from the police control room,” the commissioner said. “The programme has been divided into two parts. The president, the prime minister, cabinet members and diplomatic personnel will pay their respects to the martyrs first. Then, it will be opened to the general public”, he said. People will enter through Palashi and exit through Doyel Chattar to pay respect to language martyrs, said the DMP commissioner adding that no bags or other stuff will not be allowed to carry. National dailies will publish special supplements marking the day and Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes on the occasion. BNP also has chalked out a 2-day programme to observe Amar Ekushey.    

The Shaheed Dibash and the International Mother Language Day was observed with due respect and solemnity at Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo on Monday.  The day’s event began by placing the floral wreath at the temporary Shaheed Minar of the mission by Ambassador Shahabuddin Ahmed in memory of the language martyrs.  Later the national flag was hoisted at half-mast by the ambassador along with playing the national anthem at the Embassy premises followed by observance of one minute of silence. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic restructions, the mission organized an online discussion on the significance of the day.  The discussion started with offering special prayer (Munajat) for salvation of the souls of the Language Martyrs and Martyrs of Liberation War.  Prayer was also offered for the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his family members, for the wellbeing of the expatriate Bangladesh community and for the peace and prosperity of the country.  Then the messages issued by the president, prime minister, foreign minister and state minister for foreign affairs on the occasion were read out. Ambassador Shahabuddin paid homage to the valiant Language Martyrs and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  Read: Bangladesh exchanges views on Indo-Pacific with Australia  A number of Bangladesh community members as well as Japanese friends took part in a lively discussion.  Ambassador Masato Watanabe, President, Japan-Bangladesh Society, Ambassador Matsushiro Horiguchi, Former President of JBS, Mr. Masaaki Ohashi, Professor, Sacred Heart University & Vice President of Japan-Bangladesh Society and Professor Kyoko Niwa, Bengali Department, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies spoke on the occasion.  They praised Bangladesh for not only upholding Bangla as well as other languages  Hiromi Kawamura, Deputy Secretary General, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO sent a video message. She said that the idea of International Mother Language Day was initiated by Bangladesh and approved by UNESCO General Conference in 1999.  She said Japanese National Commission for UNESCO conducted its activities based on idea of multicultural co-existence in and outside Japan.  She informed how they are following UNESCO guideline in expanding and deepening the understanding of various languages and cultures in Japan.  Read: Indian envoy visits Asian University for Women The participants also shared their views on this year’s theme of the day “Using technology for the multinational learning: Challenges and Opportunities”. A short documentary outlining the history and significance of the day and cultural aspect of Bangladesh titled “Bangla” was screened.

As the air fills with the sadness of the song "Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February," the nation will pay deep respects to the martyrs of the Language Movement Monday, marking "Amar Ekushey," Shaheed Dibash (Martyrs' Day) and International Mother Language Day. Seventy years ago, the Language Movement was aimed at establishing the right of the mother tongue as well as protecting self-identity, culture and heritage. It inspired the nation to a great extent to achieve the right to self-determination and struggle for freedom and the Liberation War. With wreaths and flowers, people from all walks of life will pay tributes to the heroes of the Language Movement of 1952, who laid down their lives for achieving the recognition of Bangla as the state language of then Pakistan, at the Central Shaheed Minar. Also read: 21st February: DU to pay glowing tributes to Language Movement heroes

This year’s Amar Ekushey Boi Mela (Book Fair) is unlike anything the country has seen. There are stalls and books but hardly any visitor and people willing to buy books. A recent surge in Coronavirus cases and subsequent clampdown by the government to contain the transmission have only complicated the situation for the publishers who say they are counting huge losses every day. It is especially hard for small publishers. The Bangla Academy went ahead with the fair ignoring recommendations of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Salespersons at the fair said that there was hardly any sale. Most people are here for visit, not to buy books, they said. “This edition lacks the vibe and lustre of a regular book fair,” one of the salespersons said. “The usual crowd of visitors, writers and publishers is missing. The sale has been frustrating.” Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the government has ‘ruined’ the spirit of Amar Ekushey just ‘to stay in power by force’.

Members of the Bangladeshi community in Beijing on Sunday shared their emotional attachment to the International Mother Language Day and National Martyrs Day and reminisced how they attended the event in their early life.

Bangladeshis and Australians participated in a ‘Probhat Fery’ and jointly observed Amar Ekushey in Canberra on Sunday at Telopia Park where a Shaheed Minar was temporarily installed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday put utmost importance on learning mother language which protects the history and tradition.

BNP on Sunday paid homage to the martyrs of 1952 Language Movement, marking Amar Ekushey, the Language Martyrs Day and the International Mother Language Day.