Cultural organisation Chhayanaut is set to observe the Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day on Saturday, February 21, with a special programme of recitations and music at its Dhanmondi auditorium.
The event will begin at 10:30 am and will feature readings, recitations, ensemble performances and solo songs, paying tribute to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement and reaffirming the cultural spirit rooted in the mother tongue.
As in previous years, the programme will remain open to all.
The event will be streamed live on Chhayanaut’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel, allowing audiences at home and abroad to join the commemoration virtually.
Chhayanaut has observed Language Martyrs’ Day with regularity since its inception, embedding the spirit of Ekushey into its cultural calendar. Following the birth of independent Bangladesh, the organisation has also marked Independence Day and Victory Day through musical and literary tributes that revisit the history of the nation’s struggle for self-determination and honour its distinguished sons and daughters.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Independence Day and Victory Day programmes were held on the eve of the national days at the triangular premises adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence of the Dhaka University. After acquiring its own premises, Chhayanaut began hosting national day observances at its auditorium on the designated dates.
On February 21, International Mother Language Day, the organisation traditionally arranges commemorative events following the dawn procession. These observances, held either in the afternoon or at other scheduled hours, have included musical performances, recitations and, at times, film screenings dedicated to the memory of the language martyrs.
