Shaheed Minar on 2 Taka

If you hold your mobile camera on BD 2 Taka note, you can see the Shaheed Minar on it...

The Shaheed Minar (শহীদ মিনার) is a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established to commemorate those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952 in then East Pakistan.

The Language Movement was one of the formidable movements which has come up in the country of Bangladesh.

On 21 and 22 February 1952, students from Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical College and political activists were killed when the Pakistani police force opened fire on Bengali protesters who were demanding official status for their native tongue, Bengali. The massacre occurred near Dhaka Medical College and Ramna Park in Dhaka. A makeshift monument was erected on 23 February by students of University of Dhaka and other educational institutions. The Minar was inaugurated by the father of Sofiur Rahman, killed during the massacre. It was soon destroyed on 26 February by the Pakistani police force.

Following the formation of local government by the United Front in April 1954, the anniversary of 21 February was declared a holiday and it became possible to construct the new monument. A foundation stone was laid in 1956. Sculptor Hamidur Rahman created the design of Shaheed Minar under which construction was started in 1957.

Now every morning of 21st February we go to Shaheed Minar on bare feet and pay our respect to the martyrs of Language Movement by giving flowers. They are heroes of our country.