Step towards gratitude

Bangladesh shed blood to rescue mother tongue- Bangla. It was back then, in 1952, when Bangladesh wasn’t an independent country yet, rather a part of Pakistan. However, the rulers declared that the official govt. language of the whole country including Bangladesh (which was known as East Pakistan) will be Urdu. The date represents the day in 1952 when students from different educational institutions such as Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Dhaka Medical College demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka (near High Court), which is the capital of present-day Bangladesh. Now International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

International Mother Language Day has been observed on February 21 since 2000. It was declared at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference. Not only does this day promote peace and multilingualism around the world, but this date also recognizes the day that students died in the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, International Mother Language day is celebrated by placing flowers at the Martyr’s Monument, followed by a day of cultural activities, literary competitions and Bengali language events. UNESCO hosts numerous events that promote not only linguistic diversity but cultural diversity as well.

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. Yet, due to globalization processes, they are increasingly under threat, or disappearing altogether. When languages fade, so does the world's rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression — valuable resources for ensuring a better future — are also lost.