Dhaka pays tribute to martyrs on International Mother Language Day

, Feb 21: Today marks the International Mother Language Day, as declared by Unesco in November 1999.

Nations across the world celebrate this day to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education. Also, this day promotes various cultures based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

For Bangladesh, February 21 holds special importance - On this day, in 1952, millions of people from the country took to the streets in Dhaka to protest against the Pakistan government, which had refused to recognise Bangla as one of the offcial languages. The Pak had tried to impose Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.

In Bangladesh, today is observed as Language Martyr's Day. The Language Movement was the most crucial turning point in the history of Bangladesh.

The Central Shaheed Minar and the nearby areas of Dhaka University campus have been decorated with street paintings and Bangla alphabets have been painted on the walls. Students and other people walked barefoot to the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to heroes, said a Daily Star report.

Oneindia News