Development Department of Birmingham University, UK, on 21 February with due respect and enthusiasm. The Bangladeshi students studying here organised this occasion for the first time. The main programme started at 6.00pm. at Squash Lecture Hall of the department with a brief power-point presentation depicting the history of the Language Movement, the supreme sacrifices of Salam, Rafiq, Barkat and other valiant sons of the soil, how Amar Ekushey became the International Mother Language Day and finally how this very day has become the symbol of protest against tyranny, injustice on the one hand, and the epitome of creativity on the other. The legendry song 'Amar bhaier rokte rangano Ekushey February' was sung by the Bangladeshi students studying in Public Economic Management & Finance (PEMF) and MBA. Shamsun Nahar and Yasmin rendered solo songs. Students from about 20 countries attended the function. Demola from Nigeria, Zahir from Pakistan, Sangeeta and Hirmeet Singh from India, Shining from China and others rendered songs in their mother languages. Mr. T. R. Chanda, a Bangladeshi now living in Birmingham, reminisced on those tumultuous days of 1952 when he was a student of class IX at a school in Sylhet. There was pin-drop silence and everyone listened to the events with rapt attention.

The function ended with the well-known song 'We shall overcome' sung both in English and other languages by the students. The whole programme was coordinated and presented by Mr. Pranab, student representative and coordinator of the programme. The Birmingham University authorities extended all support to it.