February 21 is celebrated as International Mother Language Day. The theme for this year is linguistic diversity and multilingualism urging others to respect their own and other mother languages. The practice started in 2000 after UNESCO declared this day as the International Mother Language Day.
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid (L, front) pays homage to the language martyrs by laying wreaths at the national monument of Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 21, 2018. Hundreds of thousands of visitors laid wreaths and bouquets of flowers at the Bangladesh Central Language Martyrs’ Memorial monument in the capital of Dhaka Wednesday amid tight security.
Someone posted, “21st February is not only a language day for Bangladesh but for the world, we should respect the language we speak and love all languages, spreading love across the world! I urge the UN to let the world know this!! One love, one world!!!”
Another wrote on social media “Today is the International Mother Language Day. We should make our kids learn more & more languages but should also ensure they are proficient in their mother’s tongue too.”
To remember the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs of the Language Movement People on both sides of Benapole checkpoint celebrate International Mother Language Day. Thousands of people from the Petrapole and Benapole border areas come together, and for a moment, the border separating them is forgotten.
Members of BGB and BSF hold the flags of Bangladesh and India together during a joint celebration of the neighbouring countries’ border security forces on the occasion of International Mother Language Day at Benapole-Petrapole border checkpoint on February 21, 2018.
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 of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
>Juthy Saha
International Mother Language Day Urges Everyone to Respect Other Languages
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