BARGUNA, Feb 21 (V7N) – As International Mother Language Day approaches, preparations are underway in Patharghata upazila where 153 educational institutions will install temporary Shaheed Minars using bamboo slats and banana trees due to the absence of permanent structures.

Although 73 years have passed since the Language Movement, a significant number of educational institutions in the upazila still lack permanent Shaheed Minars. Out of 203 institutions, 153 do not have permanent monuments, forcing thousands of students to pay tribute to the language martyrs each year by constructing makeshift Shaheed Minars during February.

According to the Upazila Primary Education Office, only 11 out of 149 government primary schools in Patharghata have permanent Shaheed Minars, while the remaining 138 schools are without any such structure. Meanwhile, under the Upazila Secondary Education Office, 39 out of 54 institutions — including 29 schools, 18 madrasas and 7 colleges — have permanent Shaheed Minars, leaving 15 institutions still deprived.

Students said they are compelled to build temporary Shaheed Minars with bamboo and banana trees every year to observe February 21, but they stressed the need for permanent monuments in every educational institution to uphold the dignity of the language martyrs.

In some cases, students of institutions without Shaheed Minars have to travel to distant schools to offer floral tributes. Even in institutions where Shaheed Minars exist, many remain neglected for years.

Guardians in the area urged the government to ensure the construction of permanent Shaheed Minars in all educational institutions, saying it would help children learn about the sacrifices and history of the language martyrs from an early age.

Teacher Atiqur Rahman of Chartana Government Primary School said February 21 is a historic day in the nation’s life, but it is unfortunate that most government primary schools still lack permanent Shaheed Minars, forcing teachers and students to build temporary ones every year.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Zinat Jahan said temporary Shaheed Minars are arranged in institutions without permanent structures, adding that no government allocation is currently available for permanent construction. However, applications have been submitted to the relevant authorities seeking funding.

Patharghata Upazila Secondary Academic Supervisor Monirul Islam said that construction of Shaheed Minars in 12 secondary schools was completed last year with allocation from the Upazila Parishad. He added that initiatives will be taken to build permanent Shaheed Minars in the remaining institutions once allocations are received, while instructions have already been given to observe the day by setting up temporary Shaheed Minars where necessary.

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