Bangla Academy has taken elaborate programmes to mark the International Mother Language Day on February 21.
The month-long book fair (Amar Ekushey Boi Mela), which is already underway, is taking a different look as some special events will be organised there in rich tribute to the language martyrs of 1952.
On the day, the book fair will remain open from 8:00am to 9:00pm while the fair usually runs from 3:00pm to 8:30pm except for holidays.
On the other hand, the formal celebration of the day will begin with the placement of wreaths at the Central Shahid Minar right after midnight.
A self-composed poetry recitation on the Ekushey February will be held at7:30am at the main stage on the Bangla Academy premises while a musical event will be held on the day at 4:00pm.
A special event -- Amar Ekushey Speech -- will be held on the day at the main stage in the afternoon while the eminent professor and literary critic Serajul Islam Choudhury will present the keynote speech.
Director General of the academy Shamsuzzaman Khan will deliver the welcome speech while president of the academy Prof Anisuzzaman will preside over the lecture event.
Bangla Academy will award 'Chittaranjan Saha Smriti Puraskar' to a publication house which publishes a good number of quality books in the fair, reports UNB.
Saha, a graduate from Chaumohani College, laid a mat under a mango tree of the Bangla Academy and put on display 33 publications of his publishing house called Muktodhara Prokashoni to pay homage to the 1952 Language Movement martyrs on 21st February, 1972.
