"Paper Shaheed Minar on the lap of the hill, flowers of love from indigenous children" today is International Mother Language Day

"Paper Shaheed Minar on the lap of the hill, flowers of love from indigenous children" today is International Mother Language Day. Demanding state recognition for the mother tongue Bangla, on this day in 1952, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafiur, Salam, Barkat and many unnamed individuals embraced martyrdom. It was due to their supreme sacrifice that Bangla attained the status of a state language. But even after the formation of the state of Bangladesh in 1971, due respect and reverence were not shown to the mother tongues of other linguistic communities.

Although 21st February later gained recognition as International Mother Language Day, other languages in Bangladesh have not received state recognition; rather, their very existence as nations has been denied. Yet the emotion towards language is universal. That is why, to pay homage to the martyrs who gave their lives for the language, indigenous children in a remote hilly region of Bangladesh built a Shaheed Minar with paper and paid floral tribute there. They say, 'We offer our deepest respect to all language martyrs on the day of Amar Ekushey February.'

This selfless love for the language martyrs proves that the emotion towards language is the same in every person's heart. May all language-speaking nations gain recognition, and may our bond grow stronger. Organization: Jointly organized by Kaingmara Lotus Shishu Sadan Non-Government Primary School and Lotus Shishu Sadan Residential High School. Venue: Kaptai, Rangamati Hill District.