Bangladesh is observing International Mother Language Day today, February 21, 2026, commemorating the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement who sacrificed their lives for the recognition of Bangla as a state language. The day’s events began at one minute past midnight with the laying of floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. President Md. Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman paid tribute to the language martyrs before the monument was opened to the public. This year’s UNESCO theme is “Youth Voices on Multilingual Education.”

In his message marking the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman extended greetings to speakers of all languages worldwide and paid deep respect to the 1952 martyrs. He emphasized that democratic values, equality, and people’s rights were central to the spirit of the Language Movement and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening democracy. The observance recalls the 1952 protests in Dhaka, where police opened fire on demonstrators defying restrictions, leading to multiple deaths and ultimately securing Bangla’s status as a state language in 1956.

UNESCO recognized February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 1999, and since 2000, it has been observed globally with Bangladesh at its center.

A two-day Amar Ekushey Book Fair has begun in Rajshahi, organized by the Rajshahi Writers Collective. The event started on Friday at the city’s Batar Mor area. Organizers said the fair is dedicated to commemorating the martyrs of the historic Language Movement. The fair will remain open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

According to the organizers, the celebration aims to honor the spirit of the Language Movement through books, poetry, and discussions. Alongside works by local authors and publishers from Rajshahi, books from writers and publishers across the country are being displayed. Some rare publications are also featured at the fair.

Writers and poets from the region attended the inauguration ceremony, marking the beginning of two days of literary exchange and remembrance in Rajshahi.

On February 20, 2026, final preparations were completed at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka ahead of International Mother Language Day. The monument area has been cleaned and decorated with traditional alpana art by students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, creating a red-and-white ambiance symbolizing the spirit of February 21. The preparations aim to honor the language martyrs with dignity and order.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan inspected the site on February 19, accompanied by senior university officials and faculty members. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali stated that a multi-layered security plan involving 15,000 police personnel has been implemented, supported by SWAT, dog squads, bomb disposal teams, and cyber monitoring. He urged the public to maintain discipline and respect the sanctity of the monument.

RAB Director General Additional IGP A.K.M. Shahidur Rahman announced that the official observance will begin at 12:01 a.m. on February 21. The area has been divided into security sectors with CCTV surveillance, and similar safety measures have been taken nationwide to ensure peaceful commemorations.

Ahead of International Mother Language Day, a survey in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur has revealed that 239 out of 271 educational institutions do not have Shaheed Minars. These include government and private primary, secondary, and college-level institutions. As a result, students are unable to pay proper tribute to the language martyrs, with only 32 institutions currently having memorials.

According to the upazila primary and secondary education offices, only five of 121 government primary schools have Shaheed Minars, while none of the 64 private kindergartens do. Among 55 secondary schools, 23 have memorials, and none of the 21 Dakhil madrasas have built one. At the college level, Raipur Government College has a Shaheed Minar, but Rustam Ali Degree College does not. Several Kamil and Fazil madrasas also lack such structures.

Local education officials cited lack of land, funds, and government allocation as major obstacles. The upazila administration has pledged to take steps to ensure that all institutions gradually build Shaheed Minars to honor the language martyrs.

The Government of Bangladesh has decided to award the Ekushey Padak 2026 to nine distinguished individuals and one organization for their significant contributions in various fields. The announcement was made on Thursday, February 19, through a press release issued by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs’ event division.

The honorees include Farida Akhtar Bobita for acting, Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Sattar for fine arts, Marina Tabassum for architecture, Ayub Bachchu (posthumously) for music, Orthy Ahmed for dance, Islam Uddin Palakar for folk performance, Shafik Rehman for journalism, Professor Dr. Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for education, and Tejas Halder Jos for sculpture. The band Warfaze will also receive the award in the music category.

The Ekushey Padak, instituted in 1976, is Bangladesh’s second-highest civilian honor, recognizing exceptional contributions by individuals and institutions in fields such as language, literature, arts, education, research, journalism, economics, and social service.

Dr. Tawhidul Islam’s article explores the historical debate over early Arab Muslim settlements in Bengal, particularly in coastal areas such as Chittagong and Noakhali. Drawing on historical records and interpretations by scholars like Dr. Enamul Haq and M.A. Rahim, the piece discusses claims that Arab traders established communities for commercial purposes as early as the eighth century. Some accounts suggest these settlements evolved into organized Muslim communities, possibly forming an independent state under rulers titled 'Sultan'. However, other historians remain skeptical about the existence of such settlements before formal Muslim conquests.

The article highlights linguistic and cultural evidence supporting Arab influence, including Arabic-derived words in the Chittagong dialect and place names. It also notes that Arab traders’ interactions with local populations were facilitated by Bengal’s fertile coastal geography and its role in regional trade networks. Accounts from later travelers, such as the Portuguese Barbosa in 1518, describe Chittagong as a thriving port dominated by Arab and other merchants.

The text further contextualizes this contact within Bengal’s fragmented social structure under Sena rule, where caste restrictions and religious decline created conditions favorable to Islam’s spread and Arab settlement.

The upcoming Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 has been postponed once more, with the new schedule set from February 25 to March 15. The decision was made at a meeting held on February 18 at the Shaheed Munir Chowdhury Auditorium of Bangla Academy. The meeting was chaired by Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, attended by State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyum, Secretary Md. Mofidur Rahman, and representatives of various publishing houses. All participating publishers will now be exempted from stall rental fees.

During the meeting, Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam presented the latest updates on the fair. After discussions with publishers regarding their demands, several key decisions were reached unanimously. Publishers who have not yet applied for stalls have until 3 p.m. on February 19 to submit applications, and stall allocations will be finalized by 6 p.m. the same day.

The fair’s organizing committee, through a notice signed by Member Secretary Dr. Md. Selim Reza, confirmed these changes and the rent waiver for all participating publishers.

The holy month of Ramadan has begun in Bangladesh after the sighting of the new moon for the Hijri year 1447. According to the report, Muslims across the country will start fasting from Wednesday night. The announcement marks the beginning of a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for the nation’s devout Muslims.

Popular Islamic scholar Shaykh Ahmadullah welcomed the arrival of Ramadan through a message on his verified Facebook page. He described the month as a long-awaited period for believers and urged everyone to dedicate each moment to worship. He encouraged Muslims to enlighten their hearts with piety and the teachings of the Qur’an.

In his concluding remarks, Shaykh Ahmadullah prayed for divine guidance so that all believers may understand the significance of Ramadan and increase their good deeds during the holy month.

The holy month of Ramadan began in Bangladesh on Thursday after the moon was sighted on Wednesday evening. The National Moon Sighting Committee confirmed the sighting during a meeting at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, chaired by the new Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad. Following the announcement, Muslims across the country performed Taraweeh prayers and began fasting with the pre-dawn meal, marking the start of the month of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation.

According to the committee’s decision, Ramadan will be counted from Thursday, and the holy night of Lailatul Qadr will be observed nationwide on March 16. The decision was based on reports from district administrations, the Islamic Foundation, the Meteorological Department, and SPARRSO. Office hours have been adjusted from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the month, while educational institutions remain open. Some residents in Bangladesh began fasting earlier, following Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

Leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis extended greetings to the nation, urging unity, compassion, and government action to control commodity prices and ensure uninterrupted electricity during Ramadan.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 will now begin on February 21 instead of February 20, according to the fair’s organizing committee. The decision was made because Prime Minister Tarek Rahman’s schedule did not align with the earlier date. The committee confirmed on Tuesday evening that the fair will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at 11 a.m. on February 21 at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

Sources from the organizing committee and Bangla Academy said preparations for the event are nearly complete, including stall construction, infrastructure readiness, security planning, and cultural programs. Publishers have already received their stall allocations, and arrangements for iftar and prayers have been made in view of the upcoming Ramadan.

Officials explained that the fair was delayed by a day as the new government has just been formed and the official confirmation of the Prime Minister’s schedule was received informally. Since he was available only on February 21, the inauguration and opening were rescheduled accordingly.

The two-day 57th annual Islahi and Talimi Jalsa dedicated to Hazrat Maulana Abu Bakar Abdul Halim Hossaini (R.) concluded in Pakundia, Kishoreganj, with a mass prayer on Tuesday morning. The final prayer, held at 9:30 a.m., was led by Hazrat Maulana Md. Jasim Uddin Hathazari, where participants prayed for the nation’s development and prosperity.

The event began on Sunday afternoon with a general sermon marking the completion of the Bukhari Sharif recitation. Distinguished Islamic scholars from across Bangladesh delivered speeches during the gathering. The Jalsa took place at the Jamia Hossainia Asadul Ulum Qawmi University field, founded by the late scholar Hazrat Maulana Abdul Halim Hossaini (R.).

Devotees from Pakundia and other parts of the country attended the event, with around two thousand volunteers managing the proceedings. The madrasa, established in 1962 in Tarakandi village, continues to play a significant role in promoting Islamic education in the region.

Popular Islamic scholar and As-Sunnah Foundation chairman Sheikh Ahmadullah has announced an online Quran learning initiative for Ramadan. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he said the program, titled “Sahaj Sutre Quran Shikhi” (Learn the Quran Easily), will be a 27-part recorded video course available on the foundation’s YouTube channel. Each episode will be uploaded nightly after Tarawih prayers throughout the month.

The course will be taught by Ustadh Mohammad Husain Madani, a former teacher at Masjid al-Nabawi, who holds certification in Tajweed and the Hafs an Asim recitation. The lessons will cover everything from Arabic alphabet basics to proper Quranic recitation. Each session will include exercises to help learners review and assess their progress independently.

According to Sheikh Ahmadullah, the initiative aims to make Quran learning accessible from home during Ramadan. Participants who follow the daily lessons are expected to complete the course by the 27th of Ramadan.

Dhaka College, established on November 20, 1841, stands as one of the subcontinent’s earliest centers of modern education. Founded through the efforts of Dr. James Taylor and Magistrate Mr. Grant, it became the nucleus of English education in East Bengal. The college’s first principal was J. Ireland, a Cambridge graduate and former Hindu College teacher. Over time, Dhaka College evolved through several names and affiliations, contributing significantly to the region’s academic and intellectual development.

The institution played a key role in the establishment of the University of Dhaka in 1921, donating its buildings, books, and equipment. It also pioneered science education in East Bengal in 1875 and produced many renowned scholars and writers, including Akhtaruzzaman Elias and Humayun Ahmed. The college’s campus moved several times before settling permanently in Dhanmondi in 1955.

Currently, Dhaka College offers higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs across 20 departments, serving around 22,400 students. Principal Professor A.K.M. Elias emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance educational quality, infrastructure, and digital learning integration.

The article by Zahedul Islam Bandhan highlights February as the most glorious, mournful, and inspiring month in the Bengali national life. It recounts the 1952 Language Movement in Dhaka, when students defied Section 144 and protested for the recognition of Bangla as a state language. Police opened fire, killing several including Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar, and others. Their sacrifice led to Bangla gaining official status in Pakistan’s 1956 constitution alongside Urdu. The article notes that UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999, now observed in about 188 countries.

The piece traces the origins of the movement to 1947, when Pakistan was formed with Urdu declared as its sole state language despite Bengali being spoken by the majority in East Pakistan. It describes February as not just a calendar month but a symbol of identity, freedom, and cultural pride for Bengalis.

The article also discusses the cultural legacy of the movement, inspiring poetry, songs, plays, and the annual Ekushey Book Fair, reinforcing the enduring spirit of linguistic and cultural unity.

The historic Raiganj Press Club in Sirajganj has formed a new biannual committee. In the newly approved 11-member body, Ali Haider Abbasi, representative of the Daily Manabzamin, was elected president, and Golam Muktadir, representative of the newspaper Protidiner Bangladesh, was chosen as general secretary. The approval came at a meeting held yesterday morning, where the previous convening committee was dissolved under the chairmanship of former acting convener Atik Mahmud Akash and conducted by member secretary Ali Haider Abbasi.

The new committee includes Atik Mahmud Akash as vice president, Nurul Haque Nayon as joint general secretary, Nazmul Hossain Talukder Arafat as organizational secretary, Shihabul Alam Sayem as office secretary, and Abdul Latif as finance secretary. Saidul Islam Abir was elected as publicity and publication secretary, while KM Rafiqul Islam, HM Monaem Khan, and M Abu Hashem Moni were named executive members.

Speakers at the meeting expressed hope that the new leadership would play an effective role in improving journalistic standards, strengthening unity among members, and protecting press freedom.