Published: 22 February 2026
In the pre-dawn darkness, thousands assembled on the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, dressed in black and white and carrying flowers. Among them, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), led by Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, joined the Probhat Pheri to honor the heroes of 1952.
For TIB, Ekushey is more than a day of remembrance; it is a call to action. The martyrs' struggle against injustice is a direct inspiration for TIB's fight against corruption, which it sees as fundamentally contrary to the spirit of the Language Movement. In the equal and discrimination-free society the martyrs envisioned, there is no place for corruption or the marginalization of women, minorities, indigenous peoples, or persons with disabilities.
Since UNESCO recognized February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 1999, Ekushey's message has carried global weight in affirming every people's right to their language, culture, and dignity. By embracing this spirit of defiance, TIB reminds us that corruption in modern society is fundamentally contrary to the essence of Ekushey. In the discrimination-free country envisioned by the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement, there is simply no place for corruption.
Across the country, TIB's CCC, YES, and ACG members placed wreaths at Shaheed Minars in 45 areas, carrying one unified message that a transparent, corruption-free Bangladesh is the truest tribute to the language martyrs.
