Editor’s Note

Sixty-nine long years ago today, our defiant women and men took to the streets to demand their right to speak in their native tongue and claim their cultural and political rights. The events that followed shaped the course of our nation's history. It came to be known as a precursor of the movement for statehood that evolved out of our deep-seated desire to be free from the shackles of tyrants—a desire that the people of this land have had for centuries and which resurfaced, in full force, on February 21, 1952. The events of this day became a defining moment for Bangladesh, seared into our collective consciousness, and intrinsically linked to our sense of identity and cultural heritage.

The supreme sacrifice of our martyrs has been widely acknowledged and treated with utmost respect, with February 21 now commemorated as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO. However, the further we move forward in time and away from the events of 1952, the more we run the risk of only ritualistically commemorating Amor Ekushey. We must ensure that this is not the case, and that our younger generations are fully appraised of the events of '52 and after, and are able to carry forward our collective dream of freedom from oppression, and of national unity and cultural diversity.

In this year's Ekushey Special issue, we focus on the rich history of Bangla and its continued metamorphosis throughout the ages, as well as the significance it holds for us in the 21st century, at the height of the digital era. We hope that in doing so, we can remind our readers how important it is to preserve the linguistic heritage of this land—not just in the case of Bangla, but for the languages spoken by all ethnic groups in Bangladesh, many of which are facing grave risks in the modern era.

Mahfuz Anam

Editor & Publisher, The Daily Star