Ekushey (21st) February

Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka

 Artwork (Toronto: Feb. 26, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Ekushey February

By Jerome D'Costa

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when Bangladeshis enjoy freedom,

Freedom from hunger, freedom of the speech

Freedom of the press including the other media.

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when there’s justice in the country,

Justice in the nation’s law and administration,

Justice in education and business, justice in employment.

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when there’s equality everywhere,

Equality of all irrespective of race, religion, gender, education and profession

Equality that will heighten the bond of brotherhood and cooperation.

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when Bangladesh’s mother languages get their proper places,

Mother languages of Bangla (Bengali), mother languages of 40 other ethnic groups

Mother languages that bind individual groups with a solid glue.

If Ekushey February is observed annually without freedom, 

Without justice, equality, and proper places of country’s mother tongues,

It becomes empty, it becomes fake, it becomes a lie,

It becomes a mere yearly show for the show’s sake.

Ekushey February should be a conscience, a guiding light,

Ekushey February should be a measuring rod

For whatever we do in Bangladesh.