My family created this replica of the Shahid Minar to honor and remember those who valiantly fought for the recognition of Bangla as their language, showing our respect for the martyrs of the language movement.
Dhaka University has always been at the forefront of social and political movements, and its students have played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's destiny. One such momentous event was the Language Movement of 1952, known as the "Basha Andolon". It was a time when the people of East Bengal vehemently protested against the imposition of Urdu as the state language. Dhaka University students were among the fiercest advocates of their mother tongue, Bangla, and their unwavering dedication led to the recognition of Bangla as the official language of Bangladesh.
"International Mother Language Day" was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and has been observed annually on February 21st since the year 2000.The date commemorates the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.