Lesson 4 : International Mother Language Day - 2

21 February has been observed as Shaheed Dibosh every year throughout the country
in remembrance of the martyrs of language movement of 1952. The occasion begins
at the early hours of the day with mourning songs that recall the supreme sacrifices of
our language martyrs. People wear black badges and go to the Shaheed Minar
barefoot in procession, singing mourning songs. They place wreaths at the Minar.
Many of them visit the graves of the martyrs at Azimpur graveyard and pray for
them. They also attend various programmes organised in remembrance of the
language martyrs.
The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) on
17 November in 1999 proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language
Day in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for the rightful place of Bangla.
The day is now annually observed worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and
cultural diversity and multilingualism.