89 out of 116 educational institutions in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh do not have Shaheed Minar. February 21st is now recognized as the International Mother Language Day, but the students of these institutions in Tentulia are not able to pay proper respect to the language martyrs. Although there are instructions to observe the day in all the educational institutions, the students of a handful of educational institutions made temporary martyrs' monuments out of banana trees, cloth and bamboo to celebrate Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.
When the International Mother Language Day comes on February 21, it can be seen that due to the absence of Shaheed Minar, many private educational institutions close the institution on this day and the teachers enjoy a holiday. On the occasion of International Mother Language Day in Tentulia Upazila, only a few educational institutions celebrated the program announced by the government. Besides, most of the educational institutions do not have Shaheed Minar, so they cannot offer wreaths in memory of language martyrs.
According to upazila primary and secondary education office, there are 5 colleges, 26 secondary schools, 74 primary schools and 11 madrasa schools in seven unions of Tentulia upazila. Apart from Tentulia Government Degree College, Bhajanpur Degree College, Kalandiganj Fazil Madrasa, Sipaipara High School, Sipaipara Girls High School, Fakirpara High School, Shalbahan Girls High School, Tentulia Pilot Model High School, Ronchandi High School, Ajijangarh High School, Shalbahan High School . Apart from Government Primary School, Dhaijan Government Primary School, Roshanpur Government Primary School, Mandalpara Government Primary School-1, Khoikhatapara Government Primary School, Mathaphata Government Primary School, Bhajanpur Government Primary School, no other educational institution has Shaheed Minar.
The total number of primary schools in Tentulia upazila is 74. Only 7 of them have Shaheed Minar. Out of the total number of 26 secondary schools, 17 have martyr minar, only 1 out of 11 madrasas have Shaheed Minar and only 2 out of 5 colleges have Shaheed Minar.
In this regard, President of Bangladesh Teachers Association Tentulia Branch and Headmaster of Amjuani High School Omar Ali said that February 21st is Great Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day. However, many educational institutions do not have Shaheed Minar. He expressed his surprise about how the students today will pay respect to the martyrs, how they will remember the language movement of 1952. School teachers should all collectively try to build Shaheed Minar on their own initiative in memory of language martyrs. He also said, through the upazila education officers and with the cooperation of the upazila administration, the educational institutions which do not yet have Shaheed Minar have been demanded to be installed soon.
Meanwhile, Rezaul Haque, head teacher of Ayub-ul-Haq Girls' High School, said, "We have filed a case for the construction of Banana Tree Shaheed Minar, but so far no arrangement has been made for the construction of Shaheed Minar." Panchagarh District Administration and Upazila Administration and Directorate of Education sought the attention of the Panchagarh District Administration and Upazila Administration for the boundary wall of the school with a Shaheed Minar in memory of that 1952 language movement.
Upazila Education Officer Mostafizur Rahman said Shaheed Minar plays an important role in inspiring the new generation with the spirit of freedom. If the day is observed with deep respect then the students will be awakened to the value of the spirit of independence of the country. Received letter from Education Department centrally to construct Shaheed Minar in new style and standard infrastructure. There were such instructions, but no instructions have been issued so far. Try to work in schools which do not have Shaheed Minar after receiving clear instructions from the Education Department.
Moreover, it would be very good if Shaheed Minar is constructed under government sponsorship in educational institutions which do not have Shaheed Minar. Because many institutions in these areas cannot afford to build Shaheed Minar with their own funding. Since no government allocation is available for constructing Shaheed Minar. However, we have advised the heads of educational institutions which do not have Shaheed Minar to construct Shaheed Minar with the cooperation of UP Chairman.
Assistant Upazila Education Officer Yunus Ali said that out of 74 primary schools in the upazila, only 7 have Shaheed Minar. In educational institutions which do not have Shaheed Minar, local heads of institutions are being encouraged to build Shaheed Minar.
Upazila Executive Officer Sohag Chandra Saha said that most educational institutions do not have Shaheed Minar. Shaheed Minar will be done in government institutions. It is necessary to build the Shaheed Minar to present the history of the mother tongue to the next generation. In addition, in the private institutions which do not have Shaheed Minar, we will take necessary measures subject to receiving the government allocation if there is a demand from those institutions.
