On this day protests against the Pakistan government’s decision to make Urdu the only official language and not include Bengali as an official language of Pakistan gathered momentum in Dhaka. Students were taking a leading part in the protests.
When they tried to storm into the Assembly building, police opened fire and a number of students were killed, including Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abul Barkat and Abdul Jabbar.
After the United Front formed a local government in 1954, February 21 was declared a holiday.
By 1956, Pakistan was compelled to recognise Bengali as an official language.
February 21 is celebrated in Bangladesh as Bhasha Dibas (Language Day) and also Shahid Dibas (Martyr’s Day) and provided a great impetus to the Bangladesh Liberation War.
West Bengal celebrates the day, too, with great enthusiasm. Unesco observes February 21 as International Mother Language Day.