A CEREMONY scheduled to take place in Wharf Green today as been cancelled.

The event was intended to celebrate International Mother Language Day. But due to a huge increase in the numbers of people expected to attend, the council advised organisers InSwindon to pull the plug.

A council spokesman said: “We were notified that it was anticipated between 500 and 1,000 people were going to attend the event – ten times the amount that normally attend. As a result, there was no adequate security measures in place. We therefore advised inSwindon to withdraw the booking.”

Organised by Swindon Bengali cultural organisation EKTARA, the gathering would have seen worshippers lay down flowers in Wharf Green in memory and honour of language martyrs.

The day, popularly known as Ekushe, is held annually on Feburary 21 worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

The date represents the day in 1952 when the students of Bangladesh laid down their lives for the right to use their mother language Bangla.