Stressing the importance of learning mother tongue first, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged all to uphold the dignity of Bangla.

The nation is paying glowing tributes to the Language Movement martyrs, who laid down their lives for the recognition of Bangla as a state language on this day 64 years ago. Humming "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February...", thousands of Bangalis thronged the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital and elsewhere in the early hours today to pay homage to the language heroes.

Though children should be taught in a language they speak or understand, as much as 40 percent of the global population does not have access to that kind of education.

Underscoring the importance of learning mother language first, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged all to be more aware to uphold the dignity of Bangla.

Authorities this year will install close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras from Shahbagh to the Central Shaheed Minar premises to scrutinise the movement of people on the occasion of Ekushey February.

Visiting West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee says Bangladesh need not worry over Teesta water-sharing deal and the issue will be resolved soon