International mother language day

1. Nafiz ahmed
ID:1711EEE00131
INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE
DAY

2. Mother language means the language you learn when you are a child,
mostly the language(s) of your parents.

3. These are some of the major language branches of the world.
There are about 6000 to 7000 languages in the world. Just like the natural world, there are endangered languages and
extinct languages. In Philippines there are 120 languages, two are official, 12 are auxiliary official and four are no longer
spoken. Most of the languages in Philippines are Malayo-Polynesian.

4. In the same way that biodiversity is important for the balance of life on our planet, language diversity is important for the
balance of cultures. Language is a powerful instrument to preserve our heritage. It inspires cultural solidarity among
nations.
Learning in their mother language is the right of the children, because it can improve their learning. In many countries, not
all children get the opportunity to learn in their mother tongue.

5. UNESCO (United Nation’s Education, Scientific, Cultural Organization) promotes
Multilanguage education and attempts to protect languages from extinction.
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
and is being observed since 2000 all over the world.

6. WHY 21ST FEBRUARY WAS
CHOSEN?
In 1947, British India was divided into two countries, India
and Pakistan on the basis of religion. The East and West
Pakistan was separated by 1300 kilometres. Although
Bangla was the language of the majority, Muslim League (the
ruling party) tried to establish Urdu as the national language
of Pakistan.

7. History of Bangla Language
Movement

8. Bangla is spoken mainly in Bangladesh and West Bengal, a province of India.

9. In 1948, the Governor General of Pakistan declared in Dhaka University “the
state language of Pakistan will be Urdu and no other language.” The students
shouted “NO.” The conflict continued over the years and on 21st February 1952,
all the parties of East Bengal decided to hold a protest against the decision.

10. The day before all processions and meetings were banned, but the students took out
processions. The police shot tear gas and a riot broke out in the Dhaka University area.

11. Police opened fire in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hostel and five
persons died. The news of killings spread like wildfire and thousands of people
gathered in the Dhaka University to offer prayers for the martyrs. When they
started processions, police again opened fire and four persons were killed.

12. Through the night of 23rd February, the
students constructed the first monument
to remember the martyrs. The next day
government deployed police and military
and almost all the students and political
leaders were arrested. The fight
continued till in 29 February 1956, when
Bangla was recognised as the second
official language of Pakistan. However,
the West Pakistan continued to hold
important positions in the government
and economic development also focused
on West Pakistan. The language
movement expanded to a movement of
people’s
processes,
rights
finally
and democratic
leading to the nine
months War of Liberation in 1971 and the
creation of an independent Bangladesh.

13. To commemorate the martyrs of the language movement a monument, known as
Shahid Minar, was built in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. There are many
monuments all over the country and every year early in the morning of 21st
February, thousands of people walk to these monuments barefoot, singing a song
Ekushey February and laying flowers to remember those who died and who
suffered during the language movement.

14. The Government of Bangladesh proposed to UNESCO to identify 21st February
as International Mother Language Day as a tribute to the language movement
in Bangladesh. In its resolution UNESCO said “21st February be proclaimed
International Mother Language Day throughout the world to commemorate the
martyrs who sacrificed on this very day in 1952.”

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