Thousands of Bangladeshis walked barefoot to a sprawling memorial in the capital Dhaka on Thursday to mark bloody protests 50 years ago in support of Bangla being made a state language in then undivided Pakistan. Six Bengali youths were shot dead by Pakistani police on the streets of Dhaka and many were wounded during the protests on February 21, 1952. The language movement marked the start of the fight for independence in former East Pakistan.
Known as Ekushey, the day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. The day was also christened as the International Mother Language Day by the United Nations a few years ago in recognition of the sacrifices the protesters made.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and opposition leader Sheikh Hasina laid wreaths at the altar of the Shaheed Minar memorial. Bureau Report