DHAKA/RIYADH, 22 February 2007 — The Bangladesh president and head of the new interim government yesterday led commemorations for five “language martyrs” whose deaths marked the start of the country’s independence struggle.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and caretaker government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed laid wreaths at the Central Language Martyrs’ Memorial at Dhaka University.

The five, four of them students, died on Feb. 21, 1952, when police at the university fired at thousands of protesters demanding that Bengali be declared the state language. The country was at the time a part of Pakistan, where Urdu is the national language.

The deaths marked the start of a nearly two-decades-long struggle for Bangladesh which ended in victory in the 1971 independence war with Pakistan.

Members of Fakhruddin Ahmed’s advisory council, foreign diplomats and university chiefs also attended the ceremony.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh and the country’s consulate general in Jeddah also observed the day.

Ambassador Ikramul Haque hoisted the country’s national flag at half-mast in Riyadh. The flag unfurling ceremony was followed by the reading of messages from President Iajuddin, interim government chief Fakhruddin and Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Iftikhar Choudhury.

“While paying our homage to our youths who sacrificed their lives for the well-being of the future generation, we must dedicate ourselves to work for the nation’s development,” the ambassador told his community members.

Addressing the community members at the consulate premises in Jeddah, Consul General Ali Akbar urged Bangladeshis to stay united and uphold the dignity and image of Bangladesh.