In 1948, the Government of Pakistan declared Urdu as the sole national language of Pakistan, despite the majority of its population, mainly from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), speaking Bengali or Bangla. This decision sparked protests in East Pakistan, where the people demanded Bangla be recognized as a national language alongside Urdu. The first official demand for this recognition was made by Dhirendranath Datta on 23 February 1948 in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
The Pakistani government attempted to quell the protests by banning public meetings and rallies. However, the students of the University of Dhaka, supported by the general public, organized massive rallies and meetings. On 21 February 1952, police opened fire on these rallies, resulting in the deaths of Abdus Salam, Abul Barkat, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar, and Shafiur Rahman, with hundreds of others injured. This tragic event marked a rare moment in history where people sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue.
Since then, Bangladeshis have commemorated 21 February as a day of mourning and respect, visiting the Shaheed Minar and its replicas to honor the martyrs. The day is now celebrated as International Mother Language Day, a national holiday in Bangladesh. This global recognition was initiated by Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam, Bengalis living in Vancouver, Canada, who wrote to Kofi Annan on 9 January 1998, urging for a day to preserve and promote linguistic diversity.
Their proposal was introduced in the Bangladesh parliament and, under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was formally submitted to UNESCO. The proposal was championed by Syed Muazzem Ali, Bangladesh’s ambassador to France, and Tozammel Tony Huq, a special adviser to the UNESCO Secretary-General. On 17 November 1999, UNESCO’s 30th General Assembly unanimously declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day, commemorating the 1952 Language Movement martyrs.
Since 21 February 2000, International Mother Language Day has been observed worldwide, celebrating the importance of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. The day serves as a reminder of the powerful role languages play in preserving our tangible and intangible heritage and fostering global solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.