International Mother Language Day
| International Mother Language Day | |
|---|---|
Shaheed Minar, Dhaka (Martyr Monument) commemorates the 21 February 1952 Bengali Language Movement demonstration. | |
| Official name | International Mother Language Day (IMLD) |
| Observed by | United Nations |
| Liturgical color | Black |
| Type | International |
| Significance | Promotes the preservation and protection of all languages |
| Date | 21 February |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 21 February 1952 21 February 1972 (Officially) 21 February 2000 (Internationally) |
International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of UN resolution 56/262 in 2002.
Mother Language Day is part of a broader initiative "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people of the world" as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 May 2007 in UN resolution 61/266, which also established 2008 as the International Year of Languages. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, 21 February 1952 is the anniversary of the day when the Bengalis of the then-Pakistani province of East Bengal (which is now the independent state of Bangladesh) fought for recognition of their Bengali language as Official Central State Languages instead of Provincial Language. It is also observed by the Indian Bengalis of the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura and the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.