Ekushe February: the Language Movement of 1952

Why 21 February is International Mother Language Day, and the students who died for Bangla.

On 21 February 1952, in Dhaka, thousands of students and activists took to the streets to demand equal recognition for Bangla, their mother tongue.

Police opened fire on the peaceful demonstrators. Several protesters were killed, including Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdus Salam, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar and Shafiur Rahman. The Language Movement went on to ignite a demand for linguistic rights and cultural autonomy.

In 1956 Bangla was recognised as an official language of what was then East Pakistan. That victory set the stage for Bangladesh's independence in 1971 and still inspires language rights movements around the world.

21 February is now International Mother Language Day, in memory of those who gave their lives for the Bangla language and identity.