Volunteers arrange the decoration in front of the language martyrs' memorial monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2021. (Xinhua)
DHAKA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh celebrated the International Mother Language Day on a limited scale Sunday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared Feb. 21 the International Mother Language Day on Nov. 17, 1999 to honor the supreme sacrifice of language martyrs in Bangladesh.
One minute past midnight in the early morning of Sunday, on behalf of the president and the prime minister, their military secretaries placed the floral wreaths at the altar of the Shaheed Minar (language martyrs memorial).
A smartly turned-out contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, meanwhile, gave a state salute, while a bugle played a dirge.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the day is being observed on a limited scale discarding all sorts of massive gathering.
The Central Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas have had a facelift on the occasion, and roads and medians have been festooned with Bangla alphabets and the national flag.
A volunteer arranges the decoration in front of the language martyrs' memorial monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2021. (Xinhua)
Volunteers arrange the decoration in front of the language martyrs' memorial monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2021. (Xinhua)
A man walks past the decoration in front of the language martyrs' memorial monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2021. (Xinhua)
Children take part in the ceremony of International Mother Language Day in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2021. (Xinhua)
A woman takes part in the ceremony of International Mother Language Day in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2021. (Xinhua)■
