Every year Bengalis from Bangladesh and India meet, but it was different this year.
Security concerns ahead of anticipated political unrest in Bangladesh and the Lok Sabha polls in India, border passages between two countries remained closed on Friday, preventing them from coming together.
For the last 12 years, those who stand up for the cause of Bangla have been meeting on the border on Feb 21.
Bangladesh’s stage was set up on the north of the zero line of the border within 300 yards of its main gate, while India’s was to the south.
Benapole International Mother Language Celebration Parisad organised a function on this side, while the Bangaon Municipality held the language celebration on the other side, in India.
Unlike in previous years, the main gate remained shut on Friday. Bangla-speaking people from the two sides could not, as a consequence, meet each other.
The warmth on both sides, however, transcended the security barrier forging a symbolic and emotional bond.
India’s language ceremony included a cultural function but Bangladesh’s was limited to discussion and reciting poems following the deaths of seven school children in Jessore’s Chougachha.
The Benapole was in a festive mood with poets, litterateurs, artists and politicians thronging the venue since Friday morning.
The immortal song – Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February, Ami Ki Bhulite Pari’ (How can I forget the 21st of February reddened by my bother’s blood?) – was sung at the ceremony.
The song, Eki Akash, Eke Batas/ Ek Hridoye Eki To Shwas (The same sky, the air, the same hearts, and the same breath) was also sung.
West Bengal’s Food Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, MLA Biswajit Das, among others, attended Bangladesh’s language celebration ceremony at 11am.
Source: Bd news24
