The Bangladesh Embassy in Rome observed Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day 2023 for two days.
The programme started Monday, February 20 at 7.01pm local time (12.01am Bangladesh time on February 21).
Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy, Montenegro and Serbia Md Shameem Ahsan laid a floral wreath at the permanent Shaheed Minar in Yitzhak Rabin Park in Rome.
Also, leaders of various social, cultural and political organisations and a large number of expatriate Bangladesh nationals, including children, paid tribute to the language heroes of 1952 there.
Ambassador Shameem thanked the Italian government for erecting the permanent Shaheed Minar at a prominent site in Rome.
At 10 am on February 21, he hoisted the national flag to half-staff at the embassy premises on the morning of February 21. All the officers and officials of the embassy were present.
At the beginning of the program, a one-minute silence was observed to pay deep tribute to all the martyrs of the Liberation War and Language Movement.
Ambassador Shameem expressed deep tribute to the language martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect the rights to their mother tongue.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not only the supreme leader of the epic struggle of the Bangalees but was also the architect of the only country in the world whose name is associated with the mother tongue of its people. “At the global level, it represents the right of all people to their mother languages, so that linguistic diversity could build a peaceful and inclusive world.”
Later, the messages of the president, prime minister, foreign minister, minister of state for foreign affairs and director general of UNESCO were read out. A special documentary produced by the Department of Films and Publications was also screened.
The programme ended with special prayers for the departed souls of the martyrs and for the continued peace and prosperity of the country.
Source: United News of Bangladesh