DHAKA: Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC organized two-day long program to celebrate the Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21 of 2015 in a befitting manner.

External Publicity Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on Tuesday regarding the celebration.

The program began with the hoisting of the national flag at half-mast in the premises of the Embassy.

Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Mohammad Ziauddin hoisted the national flag in accompaniment with the national anthem in presence of all the officers and staff members of the Embassy.

During the discussion segment, messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out on the occasion.

In his speech, the Ambassador paid tributes to the language martyrs of 1952.

He also paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his immense contribution during the language movement in 1952 and founding of Bangladesh as a sovereign state in 1971.

A special prayer was offered for the eternal peace of the departed souls of the language martyrs who had laid down their lives during the language movement in 1952, and also seeking divine blessings for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country.

On February 22, a discussion meeting followed by a colourful cultural programme was organized to commemorate the day at Bangabandhu auditorium of the Embassy.

One minute silence was also observed to pay respect to the martyrs of the Language movement of Bangladesh.

In his speech, Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin urged all concerned including the expatriate Bangladesh nationals to work together for the betterment of our country.

He also emphasized on sharing the correct history with new generations abroad and encouraged them to learn Bangla language for which brave sons of the soil had made the supreme sacrifice.

Dr. Joan Burton, Affiliate Professor and Director, Federal and Global Semester Programme of the University of Maryland also spoke as a Guest Speaker.

She said that Bangladesh stood for a basic and universal human right – the right to speak and celebrate the mother language and the need to foster the diversity of world cultures and people through protecting and publicly valuing their unique languages, cultures and imaginative traditions.

She opined that in a world in which globalization is rampant, it is important to join together to celebrate that diversity loudly and publicly through events like International Mother Langue Day.

A multi-cultural show followed the discussion session. Performers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Paraguay, Ukraine and Sri Lanka participated in the program and enthralled the audience.

The guests were entertained with traditional Bangladeshi cuisine. A documentary titled “My Mother Tongue” produced by the Department of Films and Publications, Government of Bangladesh was also screened during the programme.

BDST: 1516 HRS, FEB 24, 2015