The UNESCO designated February 21st as the International Mother Language Day to be observed globally in recognition of the martyrs who fought to establish the rightful place of Bangla language. The proclamation was unanimously adopted in November 1999 through a resolution at the plenary meeting of the UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris. The resolution declared that, ‘21st February is proclaimed as International Mother Language Day to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this very day in 1952.