Declare Apr 15 as Pahela Baishakh

"If April 15 is declared as the 1st day of the Bengali month Baishakh instead of April 14, the nation can observe Ekushey February on Falgun 8," said Muhammad Taqiyyullah, a researcher on Bengali calendar, who scientifically formulated a calendar after a long research.

The researcher, who is a son of eminent linguist Dr Muhammad Shahidullah, further said it would also end the controversy over declaring Falgun 8 as the Language Martyrs' Day.

As 21st February is observed as the International Mother Language Day worldwide since 1999, it may not be easy to change the date, so the newly reformed Bengali calendar by Muhammad Taqiyyullah would help the Mother Language Day remain on Falgun 8 and February 21 every year, said the speakers.

The nation has been observing Pohela Boishakh on April 14 since 2002 for having a fault in counting the Bengali leap year in 1400 and so this year the government should fix April 15 as the 1st day of Boishakh, they added.

Former education adviser of caretaker government Prof Dr Muhammad Shamsul Haque presided over the press conference where language movement veteran Abdul Matin, Prof Mirza Mazharul Islam, Rowshan Ara Bachchu and Mahinur Rahman were also present.