Dhaka: The nation pays deep homage from midnight to the memories of valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifices to establish rights of the mother tongue, Bangla, on 21 February in 1952.

The government has taken elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.

On February 21 in 1952, Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar and Barkat embraced martyrdom in police firing in front of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as they took to street to intensify the campaign to establish Bangla as the state language of the then Pakistan, sowing the seeds of subsequent movements for the country's independence.

They were killed as police opened fire on students, demonstrating under the All-Party Students Action Committee against conspiracies of Pakistani rulers to declare "Urdu" as the only state language.

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 day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. In respect to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement, the national flag will be hoisted half-mast in all educational institutions and government, semi-government and autonomous offices.

In observance of the day in a befitting manner, the Central Shaheed Minar premises has been tastefully redecorated with paintings, graffiti, buntings and selected verses on the mother language as the nation awaits the clock to strike one-minute past zero hours (midnight) tonight to pay homage to the martyrs of the great Language Movement.

Tight security has already been enforced around the main altar of the Shaheed Minar and the Azimpur graveyard of the language martyrs as streams of people are set to pour into these places to lay wreaths to express their heart-felt respect to the 1952 language martyrs.

In separate messages on the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement of 1952.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation in paying homage to the Language Movement heroes by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past zero hours (midnight).

Political leaders, Dhaka University teachers, diplomats and representatives of various organisations and general public as well will follow them in paying tributes to the 1952 heroes, singing the first four lines of the immortal song of the day, "Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulite Paari".

Different political-social-cultural-professional organisations have chalked out various programmes, including seminars and cultural functions, to observe the Amar (immortal) Ekushey and International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner. 

National Dailies (Newspapers) 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.