21 February - Language Movement Day (Bangladesh)

 

Language Movement Day, also known as International Mother Language Day, is observed in Bangladesh on February 21 each year. This day commemorates the events of February 21, 1952, when a group of students and political activists protested against the imposition of Urdu as the sole official language of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

The people of East Pakistan, where Bengali was the predominant language, opposed the decision as it marginalized their language and culture. The protest reached its peak on February 21, 1952, when the police opened fire on the demonstrating students in Dhaka, resulting in the death of several protesters.

The sacrifices made by the Language Movement activists eventually led to the recognition of Bengali as one of the official languages of Pakistan. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Bengali became the sole official language of the newly formed country.

Language Movement Day is observed as a national holiday in Bangladesh, and various events and activities take place to honor the language martyrs and celebrate the linguistic and cultural diversity of the country. The day also has international significance, as UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 1999, emphasizing the importance of linguistic diversity and the protection of mother languages worldwide.