On February 21, 1952, Rafiq, Jabbar and Shafiq sacrificed their lives demanding that Bengali be recognised as a state language. In remembrance of their contribution, the day is observed as International Mother Language Day. To mark the occasion, television channels across the country have arranged a range of special programmes, including dramas, films and literary events.
Bangladesh Television will broadcast the morning procession and wreath-laying ceremony live from the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital at 6:00 am. A children’s programme based on the Language Movement will be aired at 10:00 am, followed by a rhyme segment at 11:05 am.
The national TV channel will air a documentary at 10:40 am, while a special programme on the International Mother Language Institute will air at 12 noon. The musical programme ‘Bhashar Gaan’ will be broadcast at 12:30 pm, featuring performances by Piyal Hasan, Sultana Chowdhury, Sabbir, Smran, Shabnam Priyanka, Humaira Bashir, Swarlapi, Akhtar, Laboni and Ananya Acharya.
At 2:30 pm, the programme ‘Ekush Mane Matha Noto Na Kora’ will be aired. Poetry recitation programmes are scheduled for 3:10 pm and 6:30 pm. A special discussion titled ‘Kotha Shahitte Amar Ekushey’ will be broadcast at 7:00 pm.
At 9:00 pm, the drama ‘Shiddhanto’, based on the sacrifice of the language martyrs and the historical background of the movement, will be aired. Written by Kazi Asad and produced by Mamun Mahmud, the drama features Masum Bashar, Kazi Asad, Salman Arafat, Tabedar-E-Rasul Channu, Athena Adhikary, Jannat-e-Ferdousi Tara, Kabir Tutul, Arafat, Ayesha and Moushumi Iqbal, among others. The day’s programming will conclude with a topic-based writing ceremony at 10:00 pm and a special musical show at 11:00 pm.
Channel i will begin its special schedule at 7:40 am with the song ‘Bhasha Amar Ohongkar’, performed by Anima Roy and artists from her music troupe. The talk show ‘Tritiyo Matra’ will air at 9:45 am, followed by ‘Prokritir Bhasha’ at 11:30 am. At 12:30 pm, the channel will broadcast the landmark film ‘Bangla’, directed by Shahidul Islam Khokon.
The drama ‘Chithiwala’, written by Shafiqur Rahman Shantanu and directed by Harun Rashid, will air at 7:50 pm, starring Mamunur Rashid, Ahsan Habib Nasim and Sushoma Sarkar.
RTV will broadcast the drama ‘Borno’ at 8:00 pm, written and directed by Imraul Rafat and starring Farhan Ahmed Jovan, Parsa Ivana and Shahtaj Monira Hashem. Maasranga Television will also air a one-man play centred on Language Day, titled ‘Bornomala’, written and directed by Simanto Sajal, will feature performances by Tariq Anam Khan and Moushumi Hamid.
Duronto TV has organised a special programme titled ‘Mayer Bhasha’, highlighting patriotic songs and poems with choreography by the performers.
Duronto TV will also air a special programme at 1:30 pm, featuring background vocals by Sunipun Barua and Mehazabien Moushi. The event has been directed by Shahadat Setu, with choreography by dancers from the cultural organisation Fulki Shahajpath Bidyaloy in Chittagong.
Other scheduled broadcasts include dance performance ‘A A K Kha’ at 8:00 am, the play ‘Jhutum Pakhir Kotha’ at 2 pm, the film ‘Manush’ at 10 am and ‘Pathshala’ at 10 pm.
Various other channels will also air special programmes throughout the day to commemorate International Mother Language Day.
