KUWAIT CITY, Feb 22: The Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait observed, “Martyr’s Day & International Mother Language Day-2023” at the Chancery in a befitting manner on Tuesday 21st February 2023. Presided over by H.E. Major General Md Ashikuzzaman, ndc,afwc,psc,G, Ambassador of Bangladesh in Kuwait. Embassy officials, members of the community and representatives of the Print and electronic media were present in the program.

To observe the day, in the early morning H.E. Ambassador Major General Md Ashikuzzaman, ndc,afwc,psc,G, hoisted the national flag at half-mast ceremoniously in the presence of the embassy Officials and a huge number of members of Bangladesh community in Kuwait.

Later on H.E. the Ambassador along with other officers of the Embassy placed wreath of flower in front of temporary Shaheed Minar (Martyrs Monument) and observed one minute silence to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during the Bengali Language Movement of 1952.

On this day in 1952, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar, Abdus Salam, Rafiquddin Ahmad, Shafiur Rahman and many others sacrificed their lives to protect the dignity of our mother language Bengali. The discussion program began with recitation from the Holy Quran. Special Dua and Munajat were offered seeking divine blessings for the souls of the language martyrs’ and prayed for the continued progress of the country.

The messages given by the Hon’ble President, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Hon’ble Foreign Minister, Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out by Officers of the Embassy. A short documentary video was shown at program highlighting the historical event of Language Movement of Bangladesh of 1952. The discussion session took place in a very lively atmosphere. Members of Bangladesh community in Kuwait including various professionals, freedom fighters, leaders of cultural organizations voluntarily took part in the discussion.

They recall the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with deep respect in their speeches. They highlighted various important events took place before and after the language movement. In his speech, H.E. Major General Md Ashikuzzaman, ndc,afwc,psc,G, Ambassador of Bangladesh in Kuwait highlighted the language movement and its significance in the formation of the subsequent mass movement that led to the emergence of independent Bangladesh. Ambassador recalled with great reverence the greatest Bengali of all times, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He informed that after independence, Bangabandhu made Bangla as the State Language and also delivered his maiden speech in Bangla at the 29th session of the United General Assembly on 25 September 1974 to introduce Bangla language to the world. H.E. Ambassador told that, due to the spontaneous willingness and sincere efforts of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with the initial efforts of some Bangladeshi expatriates living in Canada in 1999, 21st February is now being celebrated all over the world as ‘International Mother Language Day’. UNESCO recognized 21 February as “International Mother Language Day” as a tribute to the Language Movement of Bangladesh in 1952. He urged all to get inspirations from the Language Movement and devote themselves to buildup the country through their patriotism and hard work.

He also urged all Bangladesh nationals to work unitedly for the benefit of the country and asked Bangladesh nationals in Kuwait to abide by the rules and regulations of the State of Kuwait. He also thanked all the people who were present at the discussion session. Finally, he thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Government of Kuwait and the brotherly people of Kuwait for their continuous support to the Bangladeshi community.