International Mother Language Day is celebrated globally on 21 February to enhance awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and support multilingualism. The day has particular significance in Bangladesh, marking the 1952 protests by Bengali people for the recognition of their language within Pakistan.
Date Of International Mother Language Day
Initiated by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it garnered formal recognition from the United Nations General Assembly in 2002 with resolution 56/262. This observance falls within a larger UN initiative aiming to preserve and protect all languages worldwide, as recognized in resolution 61/266 adopted on 16 May 2007, which also designated 2008 as the International Year of Languages.
History Of International Mother Language Day
February 21 marks the protests against the 1948 Pakistani government's declaration of Urdu as the sole national language, neglecting Bengali, the language of East Pakistan's majority. This decision led to unrest, as the demand for Bengali to be recognized as a national language was articulated by Dhirendranath Datta in the Pakistan Assembly on February 23, 1948.
Since 2000, this day has been observed globally as International Mother Language Day, recognizing the sacrifices made during the Language Movement in Bangladesh. Despite a public gathering ban, Dhaka University students rallied, leading to police violence on February 21, 1952, resulting in the deaths of several protesters. Bangladesh honors this day and the martyrs at the Shaheed Minar memorial.
Significance Of International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh, commemorating the events of 1952. The concept was proposed by Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam in Vancouver, who urged Kofi Annan in January 1998 to safeguard endangered languages by establishing this day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina supported the initiative, which ambassador Syed Muazzem Ali successfully advocated for at UNESCO, leading to the official adoption of February 21 as International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.
Theme Of International Mother Language Day
The theme for International Mother Language Day in 2025 is "Languages Matter: Silver Jubilee Celebration of International Mother Language Day". The day is celebrated on February 21.
