Today marks the revered and historic Ekushey February, a day of pride and remembrance. From the early hours, people from all walks of life have been gathering to honour the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Bengali language.
Carrying flowers, they pay their respects at the Central Shaheed Minar, and among them are many children, accompanying their parents in this solemn tribute. After offering flowers, a large number of visitors are making their way straight to the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
By noon on Friday (February 21), the fairgrounds were already filling up with book lovers.
A visit to the area revealed a common trend—after paying homage at the Shaheed Minar, people of all ages, from young children to the elderly, were heading towards the book fair. Their attire reflected the spirit of Shaheed Dibosh, with many wearing traditional black-and-white outfits.
Among them was Al-Amin, a private university student from Mohammadpur. Speaking to this reporter, he shared, "I came to the book fair today to pay my respects to the brave souls who sacrificed their lives on February 21, 1952, to protect our mother tongue. Now, I plan to explore the fair and buy books from my favourite authors."
Similarly, Tamanna Ferdous, a private bank employee, arrived with her six-year-old son.
"Before coming to the fair, we first visited the Shaheed Minar and offered flowers. I also explained to my son why this day is so important. He listened with great curiosity. Now, after a quick snack, we’ll enter the book fair, spend some time in the children’s section, and pick out some books," she said.
Earlier in the morning, as per the pre-announced schedule, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair officially opened at 8:00 AM. As the day progressed, the crowd of visitors grew, bringing life and energy to the much-loved annual event.
