International Mother Language Day

Shaheed Minar, or the Martyr's monument, located near Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh, commemorates the sacrifice for Bangla Language on 21 February 1952

21 February was proclaimed the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO on 17 November 1999.

International Mother Language Day is observed yearly by UNESCO member states and at its headquarters to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

This is mostly the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when many Bengali-speaking people were massacred by the Pakistan police and army in Dhaka, formerly Dacca.

International observances

• The Linguapax Award is presented annually on International Mother Language Day.
• UNESCO sets the theme for each International Mother Language Day and holds related events at its headquarters in Paris on or around 21 February each year.

See also

• First language
• Language Movement Day
• Bengali Language Movement

External links

• UNESCO homepage for International Mother Language Day
• UN Information Resources
• Official related page from Bangladesh
• UNESCO Education (includes links to information on past IMLD observances)

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