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anguage movement of 1952 is a source of our pride and inspiration as a nation: Hamidur Rahman Azad

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central’s assistant secretary and former MP Hamidur Rahman Azad stated, “As a nation, language movement of 1952 is a source of our pride and inspiration.” He today made the remarks as the chief guest while speaking at a discussion meeting and prayer program at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB), marking the Great Martyrs Day & the International Mother Language Day. Jamaat Dhaka city north unit arranged the event. Jamaat’s central executive council member and Dhaka city north unit’s Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddim presided over the event while central Mojlish-e-Shura member and Dhaka city north unit’s assistant secretary Mahfuzur Rahman conducted it. When we talk about the language movement, we discuss the International Mother Language Day but there have many unknown incidents behind it. The first demand of Bengali as a state language was made in 1911 during the British rule. Basically, Nawab Ali Chowdhury first presented this demand to the British government at the Rangpur Education Conference. Then, Rabindranath Tagore in 1918 at Shanti Niketan raised the demand to make Hindi as the state language of India. Dr Muhammad Shahidullah strongly protested the demand of Tagore and demanded to make Bengali as a state language. Maulana Akram Khan presented the same demand in 1936. Ziauddin, the then vice-chancellor of Aligor University demanded Urdu to make the state language but Dr Muhammad Shahidullah protested Ziauddin’s demand. After the end of colonial rule, Muhammad Ali Zinnah, founder of Pakistan, and Pakistan’s prime minister Liakot Ali Khan proposed that Urdu and Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan but the people of east Pakistan protested the proposal and formed the strong form of movement against Pakistani rulers, Hamidur Rahman Azad claimed.

Mentioning the contribution of professor Golum Azam, Hamidur Rahman Azad stated, “Professor Golum Azam was a frontline leader of language movement. He also presented a memorandum to Liaquat Ali Khan as an elected GS of Daksu demanding Bengali as a state language. Professor golum Azam was arrested and imprisoned as he had led the language movement. He also lost his job as he involved in the movement. But he was not honored properly. His name has been erased from the name plaque of Daksu GSs. Professor Ghulam Azam's contribution to the language movement cannot be erased by wiping his name from the plaque, Jamaat’s assistant secretary further claimed.

He called on the government to give due respect to professor Golum Azam avoiding humiliation.

Student-people mass movement freed the nation on August 5 but there is still discrimination in the country, he said.

Recalling the misrule of Awami League, Hamidur Rahman Azad asserted, “Awami League made the country a reign of terror. They engaged in oppression, torture, rape, corruption and many other crimes against humanity. They executed the national leaders in the name trial: actually it was a farce. Even after the August revolution, discrimination was not eradicated. Although all the royal prisoners have been released, the ailing public oppressed leader ATM Azharul Islam has been kept in jail.
Hamidur Rahman Azad demanded the immediate and unconditional release of ATM Azharul Islam, the reinstatement of the party's electoral symbol "scale", and the restoration of the party's registration. Otherwise, people will secure their demand through mass movement.

Awami League has destroyed all democratic institutions of the country. Therefore, a free, fair and credible election at this moment is impossible until necessary reformation is completed. Mass upsurge will go in vain if election is held without reformation. Local election will hold first, then the national election. Proportional election system should be run, Hamidur Rahman Azad added.

He urged everyone to be united to build a new prosperous Bangladesh free from poverty, hunger and misrule.

The history of the language movement in the post-independence period has been distorted, claimed Selim Uddin as the chair.

Jamaat Dhaka city north unit’s nayeb-e-Ameer engineer Golum Mustafa, assistant secretary Nazim Uddin Mollah, Moulana Yeasin Arafat, Jamal Uddin, Mustafizur Rahman, media & publicity secretary Muhammad Ataur Rahman Sarker also spoke in the event.

Floral tributes at Ekushey first hour

As midnight ushered in February 21, the air around the Central Shaheed Minar thickened with reverence and remembrance. Thousands converged in the first hour, clutching flowers and forming solemn lines to honour the language martyrs—those who died defending their mother tongue against Pakistan’s colonial grip in 1952.This year, the annual tribute, known as Ekushey February, carries the weight of a nation transformed by the recent July-August mass uprising, blending pride with a palpable mourning.The scene unfolded with stately precision. President Mohammed Shahabuddin, marking his second Ekushey as head of state under a shifted political landscape, laid a wreath at the memorial altar. Moments later, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus—helming the interim government since the Awami League’s ouster—offered his first floral tribute here. Both stood in silence, heads bowed, their gestures a bridge between Bangladesh’s storied past and its turbulent present. The haunting strains of “Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February”—a song etched in the nation’s soul—drifted through the crowd, deepening the sombre mood.

Dignitaries followed in procession: Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed with judges from the Appellate Division and High Court DIvision, advisers to the interim government, and the armed forces’ chiefs—General Waqar-uz-Zaman (Army), Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan (Navy), and Air Chief Marshal Hassan Mahmud Khan (Air Force). Each placed flowers at the Shaheed Minar, a towering symbol of linguistic defiance, in a ritual that rippled across cities like Chittagong and beyond.

This year’s observance is distinct, its contours shaped by the student-led uprising that toppled a regime mere months ago. The walls around the Shaheed Minar, traditionally draped in poems, slogans, and lyrics, now bear graffiti from the July movement—a raw testament to recent struggles layered over historic ones. Banners flutter with poetic lines and calls to remember the 21st, their words a chorus of resilience.

Ekushey February transcends Bangladesh’s borders. Recognised globally as International Mother Language Day, it stands as a beacon for linguistic rights worldwide, born from the blood of Bengalis who refused to let their language fade. As dawn nears, Shaheed Minars nationwide brim with flowers, each petal a tribute to the martyrs—and a whisper of the battles still being fought.

14 individuals, women’s football team receive Ekushey Padak

Chief Adviser to the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has conferred the prestigious ‘Ekushey Padak 2025’ to 19 distinguished personalities and the Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team in recognition of their exceptional contributions across various fields. The awards ceremony took place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday.This year, recipients were honored in several categories, including Shilpakala (film, music, photography, and painting), journalism, human rights, culture and education, science and technology, social service, language and literature, and research. The Women's Football Team was recognised in the sports category.The Shilpakala category saw five awardees: Azizur Rahman (posthumous) in film, Ustad Nirad Boron Borua (posthumous) and Ferdous Ara in music, Nasir Ali Mamun in photography, and Rokeya Sultana in painting. Azizur Rahman’s award was accepted by his daughter, Alia Rahman Bindi, while Nirad Boron’s award was received by his daughter, artist Falguni Borua.

The Ekushey Padak for journalism was awarded posthumously to Mahfuz Ullah, with his wife accepting the award on his behalf. The award for journalism and human rights went to Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh.

In the culture and education category, Dr. Shahidul Alam was honored, while Dr. Niyaz Zaman received the award in education. Mohammad Yusuf Chowdhury (posthumous) was recognized for social service, with his son, Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, accepting the award.

The language and literature category saw awards for poet Helal Hafiz (posthumous) and Shahidul Zahir (Md. Shahidul Haque) (posthumous). Helal Hafiz’s award was received by his elder brother, Dulal Abdul Hafiz, and Shahidul Zahir’s award was presented to his elder brother, Habibul Haque.

In science and technology, the Ekushey Padak was given to Mehdi Hasan Khan (team leader), Rifat Nabi, Md Tanbin Islam Siam, and Shabab Mustafa. Maiedul Hasan received the award for research.

Additionally, the Bangladesh National Women’s Football Team was honored with the Ekushey Padak in the sports category. Team leader Sabina Khatun and associate team leader Maria Manda received the award on behalf of the team.

Earlier, on February 6, the Ministry of Culture announced the names of the nominees for the Ekushey Padak. Each recipient received a gold medal weighing 35 grams, a certificate of honor, a replica of the award, and a check for Tk 400,000. Instituted in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, the Ekushey Padak is awarded annually by the government to individuals and organizations who have made remarkable contributions in various fields.

The Cabinet Secretary, Sheikh Abdur Rashid, read out the names of the awardees at the event. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki chaired the ceremony, and Additional Secretary Md. Mofidur Rahman, who is performing the routine duties of the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, delivered the welcome address.

SC orders appointment of 1,137 excluded 27th BCS candidates

The Supreme Court's Appellate Division has directed the appointment of 1,137 candidates who were excluded due to the cancellation of the oral examination results of the 27th BCS. A five-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, issued the order on Thursday after hearing three appeal petitions.Salah Uddin Dolon, the lawyer for the appellants, informed the media that those among the approximately 1,200 candidates who wish to join will be appointed to the 27th batch, with seniority benefits.When asked about the timeline for their appointment, Dolon stated that the High Court had previously ruled that appointments must be made within 90 days. The Supreme Court's ruling upholds this 90-day deadline.On January 21, 2007, 3,567 candidates passed the first oral examination of the 27th BCS. However, the then-Caretaker Government's advisory council decided on May 30, 2007, to cancel the results of the first oral examination. Following this, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) canceled the results on July 1, 2007, and announced a second oral exam. Candidates challenged this decision in the High Court.

On November 11, 2009, the High Court declared the second oral examination illegal, which had taken place on July 29, 2009. The government filed an appeal against the ruling. On July 11, 2010, the Appellate Division disposed of the appeal with observations.

Biman’s Dubai flight makes emergency landing in India

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dhaka to Dubai with 396 passengers and 12 crew members on board made an emergency landing at Nagpur airport in Maharashtra of India, officials said on Thursday. The flight was diverted and made the emergency landing at around midnight on Wednesday due to technical issues, said a senior official of the Nagpur airport.The flight was carrying 396 passengers and 12 crew members, another official said.The passengers will be flown by another flight of the company later in the day, he said.