Celebrated on 02/21/2026
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and has been observed annually on February 21 since 2000. The date marks the day in 1952 when students in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) were killed while protesting for the recognition of their mother language, Bengali.
The origins of International Mother Language Day are rooted in the language movement of Bangladesh. In 1952, students at the University of Dhaka protested against the Pakistani government's decision to impose Urdu as the sole national language, despite Bengali being spoken by the majority. On February 21, 1952, police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing several students. This tragic event galvanized the Bengali language movement, which eventually led to the recognition of Bengali as an official language of Pakistan and later contributed to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Since its first observance in 2000, International Mother Language Day has grown into a global celebration of linguistic diversity. Each year, UNESCO chooses a theme to highlight different aspects of language preservation and education. Events include seminars, cultural performances, and language fairs. In Bangladesh, the day is a national holiday marked by solemn tributes at the Shaheed Minar (Martyrs' Monument) in Dhaka. Worldwide, communities organize activities to promote mother tongue education and raise awareness about endangered languages.
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