International Mother Language Day & Martyrs’ Day 2025
February 21—A date, a history, an emotion. This day is not just significant for Bangladesh but also stands as a global symbol of the right to linguistic freedom. On this day in 1952, the Bengali people sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue, allowing us to proudly speak in Bengali today.
International Mother Language Day & Martyrs' Day 2025
The Background of the Language Movement
The people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) spoke Bengali, but the Pakistan government attempted to impose Urdu as the only state language. In protest, students and the general public launched a movement. On February 21, 1952, police opened fire on protesters in Dhaka, killing Salam, Rafiq, Barkat, Jabbar, and many unnamed language martyrs. Their sacrifice forced the government to recognize Bengal...