To promote cultural and linguistic diversity, Unesco had designated February 21 as International Mother Language Day way back in 1999. The 24th edition of the International Mother Language Day's theme was "multilingual education - a necessity to transform education". Various processions and programmes were held in Kolkata to observe this day. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee also attended a function at Deshapriya Park
Amit Datta/My Kolkata
(Top) A 'probhat feri' (morning walk) on the occasion of International Mother Language Day was organised from the Bangladesh Library and information Centre to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. This was led by Andalib Elias, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner. (Below) Women also paid floral tributes at the Shaheed Minar at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission premises
Suvendu Das/MyKolkata
The day is significant for Bengalis, whether from Bengal, Bangladesh, or any other part of the world as it is observed as Ekushe February, as 'Matribhasha Diwas' or Shahid Dibash. Many revolutionaries gave up their lives to save their language and on this day, people in West Bengal and Bangladesh pay homage to those who had sacrificed their lives to create an identity for Bengali as a language. A programme held at the Petrapole, India-Bangladesh border in Bongaon to observe the International Mother Language Day
Ashim Paul/My Kolkata
Fifteen cyclists reached Dhaka on International Mother Language Day on Tuesday, at the end of their seven-day journey from Kolkata. They crossed the international border via Bongaon on February 16. According to Sarojit Roy, a member of Bhasha Sutra, the main organiser of the trip, they reached Dhaka via Narail, Bhanga and Mawa. “The trip has been exactly how we had anticipated. The first time we went to Dhaka to participate in the 'Bhasha Dibash' celebrations was in 2012. The kind of hospitality we had received, makes us go back there every year after that,” Roy added.
There are about 6,500 languages in the world and Bangla is the sixth most spoken language currently. However, globally, about 40 percent of the population lacks access to education in the language that they speak and the motive behind the International Mother Language Day is to promote and preserve languages and its significance. On Tuesday, students from Patha Bhavan School marched around the city to celebrate Bengali language and remember the ones who died for the recognition of their language
Soumyajit Dey/My Kolkata
