State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari paying homage by placing wreath to the Language Martyrs at the central Shaheed Minar in Jaipurhat. Photo; BSS

JAIPURHAT, Feb 21, 2026 (BSS) - There is no precedent anywhere in the world for giving one's life for a language, said  State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari.

"The Language Movement is unique, as nowhere else in the world have people sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue," he said.

The State Minister said this after paying homage by placing wreath to the Language Martyrs at the central Shaheed Minar in Jaipurhat today on the occasion of the Martyrs' Day and the International Mother Language Day.

A large number of people gathered at the Shaheed Dr Abul Kashem Maidan in the early hours of Ekushey February to pay their respects.

The programme began with the State Minister Md Abdul Bari laying a wreath at the Shaheed Minar. Jaipurhat Deputy Commissioner Md Al-Mamun Mia and other district administration officials were present.

Following this, Superintendent of Police Mina Mahmuda and other district police officials, district Jamaat amir, Member of Parliament Md Fazlur Rahman Sayeed of Jaipurhat-1 and leaders of BNP paid their respects. 

Subsequently, various political parties and representatives of government and non-government organizations also offered tributes.

Abdul Bari said UNESCO has recognized the language struggle of Bangladesh and then initiated the International Mother Language Day. 

The streets of Dhaka were stained with the blood of martyrs Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and Salam, he added.

He highlighted that the movement began to ensure an egalitarian society, equality, justice, democratic rights, and the right to speak in one's mother tongue. 

He prayed for the eternal peace of all those who sacrificed their lives in the Language Movement, Movement for Self-determination (Swadhikar Andolon), the July-August uprising and the 17-year long democratic struggle.

The state minister further said that the struggle for the Language Movement laid the foundation for a just society, the right to speak freely, democracy, the rule of law and a corruption-free society, which today enables citizens to exercise their voting rights and form governments.

The State Minister added that under the Prime Minister's able leadership, the country will be established as a prosperous nation in the global arena, and the sacrifices of the Language Martyrs, the Liberation War martyrs, and those of the July-August uprising will be realized.