The Bangladesh Embassy in Athens observed Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day 2026 with solemnity and respect, organizing both educational and commemorative activities to highlight Bangladesh’s cultural heritage and the importance of linguistic diversity.
As part of the observance, the Embassy conducted an outreach visit on 6 February 2025 to Latsio American College in Athens. Led by the Ambassador Nahida Rahman Sumona, the delegation introduced students to Bangladesh’s history, language and cultural traditions through an engaging presentation, a short documentary and interactive activities such as quizzes and discussions.
Students were also given bookmarks featuring Bengali alphabets, with both Bengali and Greek scripts displayed side by side to encourage cultural understanding.
On 21 February 2026, the Embassy organized a formal commemoration at the Shaheed Minar situated at the embassy premise, which included half-masting of the national flag, floral tributes, recitation from holy scriptures, a minute of silence for the martyrs, reading of official messages, poetry recitation and prize distribution for children’s essay competitions on the theme “My Language.”
The program highlighted the continued relevance of language, culture and heritage for future generations.
The Honorary Consul of Bangladesh to Albania, Shaban Xhabrahim, also attended the event and paid tribute at the Shaheed Minar. In her concluding remarks, H.E. Ambassador Nahida Rahman Sumona stressed the importance of respecting all mother languages, preserving Bangla and promoting cultural and linguistic harmony, encouraging participants to carry forward the spirit of Ekushey in everyday life.
The program concluded thoughtfully with the distribution of Iftar packets to participants, marking a respectful and meaningful close to the day’s observances and reinforcing the Embassy’s commitment to community engagement and cultural solidarity.
