CJ Terms Ekush a Pillar of Bengali Identity as He Pays Tribute to Language Martyrs

On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Honorable Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, along with Justices of the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, paid tribute to the martyrs of the historic 1952 Language Movement. 

In the early hours of February 21, 2025 (Friday), they laid floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar on the premises of Dhaka University.

Following the President and the Chief Adviser, the Chief Justice and Supreme Court Justices placed their wreaths, standing in solemn silence to honor the sacrifices of the language martyrs. 

The event served as a reflection on the significance of the Language Movement and reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to preserving its legacy.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed described Ekush as a fundamental pillar of Bengali identity.

“Ekush is one of the primary inspirations for state-building in post-1971 Bangladesh. For me, it holds a deeply personal significance—my mother was a language movement activist, a true daughter of the Language Movement,” he stated.
Notably, the Chief Justice’s mother, Bangladesh’s first female National Professor, Sufia Ahmed, was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2002 for her contributions to the 1952 Language Movement.

As a second-year student at the University of Dhaka’s Department of Islamic and Cultural Studies, she played an active role in the movement and was among those who defied the government’s ban by breaking Section 144 on February 21, 1952.