Dhaka: The last-minute preparation and decoration of the Central Shaheed Minar are going on in full swing to observe Language Martyrs’ Day, also the International Mother Language Day, on February 21.

The day will be observed with elaborate programmes to commemorate the struggle for the Bengali language in 1952.

During paying visit on Monday, workers were found cleaning and washing the premises of Central Shaheed Minar. While talking to UNB, they said they had been working for several days to ensure the cleanness in the area.

Besides, the students of Fine Arts of Dhaka University informed that they will decorate the entire Shaheed Minar area with colourful scratches and designs.

They will decorate alter of the Shaheed Minar in the afternoon while the work of design from the Palashi to Doyel Chattar will begin from Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, the ‘Ekushey Udjapan Samonnay Committee’ which was formed for the observance of the day, has finalised a route map for the smooth entry and exit from the Shaheed Minar area on the day.

The route map will be effective from 7:00pm on Tuesday, said a press release of Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday.

According to the release, the route will allow people to enter the Central Shaheed Minar through Azimpur Road, Palashi crossing and Fuller Road.

The Shaheed Minar could also be reached through the road in front of Home Economics College and Eden College via Azimpur crossing and Palashi crossing.

People from Chankharpul area can go to the Shaheed Minar through Bakshibazar crossing, Palashi crossing and the road in front of Jagannath Hall.

After placing wreaths at the Shaheed Minar, people will go through the road in front of the university playground, Doyel Chattar and Chankharpul.

People can go to Azimpur graveyard through the old High Court road, Doyel Chattar, Bangla Academy, TSC crossing, road beside Vice-Chancellor’s residence and New Market intersection.

The road on the east of Jagannath Hall from TSC will remain completely closed.

Law enforcers have started their activities to ensure the tight security on the day in the surrounding area.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay their respects to the language martyrs at one minute past midnight on the day.

They will offer a moment of silence, bowing their heads, to remember the sacrifices of those brave hearts.

Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life will come in thereafter to pay their tributes by placing floral wreaths.

On February 21, 1952, Salam, Barkat, Shafiur, Rafiq, Jabbar and others, mostly students, laid down their lives to establish Bangla as one of the state languages of the then Pakistan.

Since then, the day has been observed as the Language Martyrs’ Day.

In November 1999, UNESCO declared it the International Mother Language Day in recognition of the sanctity and preservation of all vernacular languages in the world.

The event began being observed from February 21 in 2000 throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this date in Dhaka in 1952.