21 February and the Bengali Language Movement: Why Mother Language Day Exists
The history of the 1952 Language Movement in Dhaka, how it led to International Mother Language Day, and the vocabulary of remembrance.
Few languages have a day of international recognition that traces directly to people who gave their lives for it. For Bengali, that day is 21 February.
Background
When Pakistan was created in 1947, its two wings, West and East, were separated by about 1,600 kilometres. The majority of the population lived in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and spoke Bengali, but proposals emerged to make Urdu the sole state language. Many Bengalis saw this as a threat to their culture, education and economic prospects.
The events of 1952
On 21 February 1952, students and activists in Dhaka defied a ban on public gatherings to demand that Bengali be recognised as a state language. Police opened fire, and several protesters were killed, among them Abul Barkat, Rafiquddin Ahmed and Abdul Jabbar, with others including Abdus Salam commemorated as martyrs. The date became known as শহীদ দিবস (Shahid Dibosh, Martyrs' Day).
The outcome
The movement continued, and in 1956 Bengali was recognised as a state language of Pakistan alongside Urdu. The events also strengthened the Bengali nationalist movement that eventually led to the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
Shaheed Minar
The শহীদ মিনার (Shaheed Minar, Martyrs' Monument) in Dhaka commemorates those killed. Each year, people gather at midnight on 20 February to lay flowers, often walking barefoot. Replicas of the monument stand in many towns and in Bengali communities abroad.
International Mother Language Day
In 1999, UNESCO proclaimed 21 February as International Mother Language Day, following a proposal from Bangladesh, and it has been observed worldwide since 2000. It celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingual education.
The song of remembrance
The song "আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাঙানো একুশে ফেব্রুয়ারি" (Amar bhaiyer rokte rangano Ekushey February), written by Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, is the anthem of the day and is sung across Bangladesh each year.
Vocabulary of remembrance
- ভাষা (bhasha) — language
- মাতৃভাষা (matribhasha) — mother tongue
- ভাষা আন্দোলন (bhasha andolon) — language movement
- শহীদ (shahid) — martyr
- আত্মত্যাগ (attotyag) — sacrifice
- স্বাধীনতা (shadhinota) — independence
- অমর (omor) — immortal
- শ্রদ্ধা (shroddha) — respect, homage
Why it matters to learners
Understanding this history shows why many Bengali speakers feel a strong emotional link to their language. Learners who show respect for that history are often warmly welcomed.
Practice
- Read a short Bengali article about Ekushey February.
- Learn the vocabulary above.
- Listen to the song and follow the lyrics.
- Look up any words you don't know.
Look up vocabulary from Bengali history with English Bangla Dictionary →
English Bangla Dictionary
Offline English–Bangla dictionary with meanings in proper Bengali script
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