Paragraph on International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is observed every year on 21 February to honour the memory of the language martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Bangla language in 1952. On this day, students in what was then East Pakistan protested against the government’s decision to make Urdu the only state language, and several protesters were killed by police in Dhaka. In recognition of this sacrifice, UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999. The day is now observed worldwide to promote linguistic diversity, and in Bangladesh, people visit Shaheed Minar barefoot, singing the song “Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano.”

International Mother Language Day, observed globally on 21 February, traces its origins to the Language Movement of 1952 in what was then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, making it one of the few international observances rooted directly in the history of a single nation. When the government of Pakistan attempted to impose Urdu as the sole state language, despite Bangla being the mother tongue of the majority of East Pakistan’s population, students and citizens organised widespread protests demanding recognition for Bangla. On 21 February 1952, police opened fire on demonstrating students in Dhaka, killing several young protesters, including Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, and Jabbar, who became known as language martyrs and whose sacrifice eventually led to Bangla being recognised as a state language in 1956. In recognition of the significance of this movement, UNESCO officially declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999, and it has since been observed worldwide to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. In Bangladesh, the day is marked with deep national reverence: people walk barefoot to the Shaheed Minar at dawn, laying flowers and singing the mournful song “Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano,” while schools, offices, and media organise programmes reflecting on the importance of language, identity, and sacrifice.