Amar Ekushey February and International Mother Language Day are being observed in the port town of Benapole with due dignity and solemnity.

Wearing black badges as a symbol of mourning and carrying floral wreaths, thousands of people paid tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement. The day’s programme began at 12:01am with the laying of wreaths at the Shaheed Minar of Benapole Secondary School.

Among those who placed wreaths was Alhaj Nuruzzaman Liton, general secretary of Sharsha upazila unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He paid deep homage to the language martyrs.

Also present were Abu Kashem, president of Benapole union BNP; Chairman Alamgir Siddiqui, general secretary; Amirul Islam, upazila president of Krishak Dal; Mohaymenul Sagar, upazila general secretary of Chhatra Dal; BNP leader Dr Tabibur Rahman; journalist Kamal Hossain; and leaders and activists of different associate bodies of the party.

At the programme, participants joined in chorus to sing the immortal Ekushey song, “Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulite Pari” (My brothers’ blood has stained the 21st of February — can I ever forget).

As dawn broke, the Shaheed Minar premises became vibrant with the footsteps of students from various educational institutions and people from all walks of life, who gathered to pay their respects.