Bangladesh High Commission, London has celebrated the Great ‘Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day 2025 with due respect by paying rich tributes to the immortal martyrs of the great Language Movement. The silver jubilee of the International Mother Language Day is being celebrated this year with the theme “Languages for Sustainable Development 2025.”To mark the day, High Commissioner Abida Islam and Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman paid rich tributes to the language martyrs by placing wreaths together at the Shaheed Minar at Shaheed Altab Ali Park in East London. Senior officials of the Mission were present on the occasion. Later, in the presence of all the officials and staff of the High Commission, the High Commissioner hoisted the national flag at the Embassy premises with the playing of the national anthem.
In the evening, a special discussion and cultural program was organized at the Bangladesh Embassy premises. “At the beginning of the program, the embassy staff performed the song” “Ekushey February” “in my brother’s blood.” Eminent personalities from the Bangladeshi community living in London and Ireland attended the special discussion and cultural programme.
A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the Language Martyrs of 1952, the Martyrs of the Liberation War of 1971 and the Martyrs of the July-August People’s Uprising. A special prayer was offered seeking divine blessings for the peace of their souls and prosperity and progress of the country. The messages of the Chief Adviser, Foreign Adviser and Director General of UNESCO were then read out. Samata Khatun, mayor of Camden Council, Saifuddin Khaled, speaker of Tower Hamlets, and other prominent members of the British Bangladeshi community spoke at the special discussion.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh Abida Islam in her speech said that the sacrifice of the brave martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 reminds us that language is not just a means of communication; it is the carrier of our existence, culture and heritage. She called for the inclusion of Bangla language in the UK’s national curriculum in view of the fact that Bangla is currently the 7th most spoken language in the world and to make the British-Bangladeshi generation interested in learning Bangla language.
At the end of the discussion, a cultural performance was held with the participation of the British Bangladeshi community and officials and staff of the High Commission. At the end, the guests were treated to traditional Bangladeshi food.
