Members of the Sanatan Art and Cultural Association Victoria (SACAV) pay tribute to the language martyrs during the International Mother Language Day observance organised by the Victorian Bangladeshi Community Foundation (VBCF) at the Shaheed Minar in Tarneit, Melbourne.
Melbourne, February 21: Members of the Sanatan Art and Cultural Association Victoria (SACAV) paid heartfelt tribute to the language martyrs during the observance of International Mother Language Day, organised by the Victorian Bangladeshi Community Foundation (VBCF) in Melbourne.
The solemn and vibrant event was held at the Shaheed Minar located at the Julia Gillard Library precinct in Tarneit, where members of the Bangladeshi community gathered to honour the sacrifices made during the historic Language Movement of 1952.
The programme began with a respectful tribute to the language martyrs, as community members laid floral wreaths at the Shaheed Minar in remembrance of those who gave their lives to protect the right to speak their mother tongue. Members of Sanatan Art and Cultural Association Victoria (SACAV) joined the ceremony and paid their respects alongside other community organisations.
Following the tribute, AKM Morshed Kamal, President of VBCF, delivered the welcome address. In his remarks, he highlighted the historic significance of February 21 in the collective memory of the Bengali people and emphasised the universal importance of safeguarding linguistic diversity and cultural identity around the world.
Representatives and members of SACAV expressed their pride in participating in the commemoration and reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Bengali language, heritage, and cultural traditions within the multicultural fabric of Australia.
International Mother Language Day, recognised globally by UNESCO, commemorates the sacrifices of the Bengali language martyrs and promotes awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide.
The event concluded with community reflections, cultural expressions, and a renewed call to uphold the values of language, identity, and unity across generations.
