♥ Bangladesh ♥International Mother
Language Day
The UNESCO has declared
21st February as The
International Mother
Language Day to be
observed globally in
recognition of the
sacrifices of the Bangla
language martyrs who
laid their lives for
establishing the rightful
place of Bangla. The
proclamation came in the
form of a resolution
unanimously adopted at
the plenary of the
UNESCO at its
headquarters in Paris in
November 1999. In its
resolution the UNESCO
said-' 21st February be
proclaimed International
Mother Language Day
throughout the world to
commemorate the
martyrs who sacrificed
their lives on this very day
in 1952 ’.
It is a great tribute and
glowing homage paid by
the international
community to the
language martyrs of
Bangladesh. The genesis
of the historic Language
Movement which ensued
since September 1947
with the students in the
vanguard backed by
intellectuals, cultural
activists and patriotic
elements was the first
spurt of Bangalee
nationalistic upsurge
culminating in the
sanguinary events of
February 21, 1952 and
finally leading to the war
of Liberation in 1971.
The UNESCO in its
resolution said-the
recognition was given
bearing in mind that all
moves to promote the
dissemination of mother
tongues will serve not
only to encourage
linguistic diversity and
multilingual education but
also to develop fuller
awareness about linguistic
and cultural traditions
throughout the world and
to inspire solidarity based
on understanding,
tolerance and dialogue.
Henceforth UN member
countries around the
world will observe 21st
February as the
International Mother
Language Day. The
historic 21st February has,
thus, assumed new
dimension. The sacrifices
of Rafiq, Salam, Jabbar,
Barkat and other martyrs
as well as of those
tortured and repressed by
the then authoritarian
government of Pakistan
for championing the
cause of their mother
tongue have received
now a glorious and new
recognition by the
November 1999
resolution of the UNESCO.
Countries who gave
support to the proposal of
Bangladesh Govt. for
declaring the 21st
February as The
International Mother
Language Day are Banin,
Bhahama, Balaroush,
Comoros, Chili, Dominic
Republic, Egypt, Gambia,
Honduras, Italy, Iran,
Micronesia, Oman, The
Philippines, Papua
Newgini, Pakistan,
Paraguay, Russian
Federation, Sir Lanka,
Saudi Arabia, Surinam,
Slovakia, Vanuatu,
Indonesia, India,
Ivoricost , Lithuania,
Malaysia
The following persons
worked hard for bringing
this international
recognition to Bangla.
Rafiqul Islam, Abdus
Salam, Albart Vinzon,
Carman Cirstobal, Zason
Morin, Susan Hozinos, Dr.
Calvin Chow, Nasrin
Islam, Rinata Martins
Karuna Zoshi |
