International Mother Language Day 2020-History and Observance

21st February International Mother Language Day – Every nation has some achievements that they can take pride in. Our language day is our national event and achievement. But the matter of pride for us is that this national event has crossed our national boundary and become universalized. The International Mother Language Day is the recognition of our language movement and the heroic sacrifices of the language martyrs by the international community. Now, after the recognition, our language day is observed globally as International Mother Language Day.

International Mother Language Day History

February 21st is observed as the language day. This day is the culmination of a series of protests and events that took place between 1948 and 1952. After the independence of Pakistan, the ruling authority of West Pakistan recognized Urdu as the state language of Pakistan in 1948 and tried to impose it on the Bangla-speaking majority of people. Not only that they also denied the demand of the Bengali’s for the recognition of Bangla as the state language.

In 1952, protests erupted throughout East Pakistan against the imposition of Urdu and for the recognition of Bangla as the state language of Pakistan. The ruling authority imposed section 144 all over the country as the protest grew stronger. However, when students, politicians and general people brought out a procession in Dhaka University area defying section 144, the police charged fire on the procession. As a result, Rafiq, Salam, Jabbar, Barkat, Shafiq met martyrdom. Finally, Bangla was recognized as the state language. Since then, the day is observed throughout the country with solemnity and due homeage.

When 21st February First Celebrated in Bangladesh

Since 1952, the 21st of February is observed as the language day in Bangladesh. But 21st February was first celebrated in 1955. We have erected monuments which are also known as Shahid Minar and remembrance of martyrs. On 21st February we offer flowers wreaths and stand silent in honor of them.

When 21st February First Celebrated in Globally

On 17 November 1999, UNESCO, a specialized organization of the United Nations (UN) recognized our language movement and sacrifices of the Martyrs. They declared that UNESCO would observe the day internationally. Since 2000, the International Mother Language Day is being observed all over the world. The recognition by the UNESCO and the observance of the day by the international community has increased our national glory and uplifted the sacrifices of our language martyrs. Through UNESCO recognition, our language day has got international status. 21st February International Mother Language Day also celebrated across the world, including different countries like India, Russia, Philippines, Canada, Chile, Egypt, and many other countries.

International Mother Language Day 2020

Every year 21st February celebrated all over the world as an International Mother Language Day. Like every year we celebrate 21st February International Mother Language Day 2020 in Bangladesh and also all over the World with due to homeage and proper respects to the martyrs who sacrifice their lives for Bangla language.

Read More: Bangladesh Independence Day 2020

International Mother Language Day Activities

On 21st February, the national flag keeps hoisting half-mast in government institutes, semi-government institutes, and private institutes for observing this day.
Bangladeshi people celebrated this day by putting flowers and their replicas at the Martyrs’ Monument. In Bangladesh, this day is observed as a public holiday since 1953. This day is also called Shahid Dibosh (Martyrs Day). On November 17, 1999, the UNESCO General Conference declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day. On 21st February, Bangladeshi people arrange social gatherings for respects their language and culture.

International Mother Language Day Celebration in School

On this day, many School and college authorities arrange different competitions like write a paragraph on International mother language day, composition international mother language day, Ekushey February essay in Bengali writing competitions. They also draw beautiful alpona on the streets.

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The Significance of 21st February

21st February has a large amount of value and significance for the Bengali community. On 21st February, the Bangladeshi people get the right to write and speak in their mother tongue after donating a huge amount of blood under the shooting of the West Pakistan Police. It acted as the catalyst of the own identity of the Bengali national in East Pakistan. It also became the predecessor to the language movements of the Bengali nationalist, and finally, the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 was held.

21 February Pic

Here are the some 21 February picture, where celebrate this day.

Amor Ekushey Book Fair in February

Every year Amor Ekushey Book Fair is held in February. It is a month-long book fair. This fair is controlling and manages the department of the Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh government. There are several stalls, which are divided for the Publishers, child corner, little magazines, Governmental and Non-Governmental Institutes. The fair stalls also named of language movement martyrs like Jabbar, Rafiq, Salam, Barkat, etc. At present, some digital publishers are bringing CDs, DVDs in Amor Ekushey Book Fair. They provide various facilities to their customers. In book fair little magazines, posters are drawback the attention of the customers. There are huge collections of different types of books in this book fair. Customers are easily buying those books in one place.

International Mother Language Day 2020 Theme

21st February International Mother Language day 2020 theme is: “Indigenous languages matter for development, peacebuilding, and reconciliation”, because, in this year the day will be observed by the international year of indigenous languages.

International Mother Language Day Slogan

International Mother Language Day Poster

Here are some poster about International Mother Language Day

Facts about International Mother Language Day

There are some facts about International Mother Language Day. They are:
• All over the world, the most widely spoken languages by native and non-native speakers are – English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
• The five most difficult languages in the world are to learn for an English speaker are Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean.
• In 2020, the number of known, spoken languages is 7097. Around a third is endangered and has less those 1000 speakers.

21 February International Mother Language Day Quotes

Here are some famous quotes on International Mother Language Day.

Everything can change, but not the language that we carry inside us, like a world more exclusive and final than one’s mother’s womb.

– Italo Calvino 1923-1985, Cuban Writer, Essayist, Journalist

To have another language is to possess a second soul.

– Charlemagne 742-814, King of the Franks, Emperor of the West

A special kind of beauty exists which is born in language, of language, and for language.

– Gaston Bachelard 1884-1962, French Scientist, Philosopher, Literary Theorist

Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.

– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist.

International Mother Language Day Observances

Here you see the past and future date and day when International Mother Language is observance.

21st February Video

Here is the 21st February video, where you see the history of this day.

21 February International Mother Language Day-The 21st February and its observance lies elsewhere. It shows the seed of our liberation war, and importantly, the language movement teaches us that we have to rise for achieving our rights for establishing our place of honor and dignity in the world. It teaches us not to bow down to any oppression. It also inspires us to sacrifice our most treasured thing for the sake of the country. So the importance of International Mother Language Day is very significant.
We are the only nation of the world to sacrifice lives for the mother tongue. International Mother Language Day is a glorious recognition of our history and our achievement. 21st February International Mother Language Day highlights the importance of linguistic identity and variety. As a Bangladeshi, we are really proud that we have achieved something that has got global acceptance.