International Mother Language Day: Importance of 21 February

By a Staff Reporter: By a Staff Reporter: 21 February is observed as International Mother Language Day. International Mother Language Day is celebrated for the language movement of Bangladesh. 21 February 1952 has great importance in this movement. A huge procession was organized in Dhaka on February 21, 1952 to demand the right of Bengali as the state language in 'then Pakistan'. 

A large number of students of Dhaka University and some political activists held a protest march. However, Section 144 was in effect in Dhaka at that time. When the procession came near the Dhaka Medical College, the police opened fire on the protesters on the pretext of violating Section 144. As a result, several people were killed and injured.