Public Tributes for International Mother Language Day Martyrs

Community leaders, residents, and representatives of the Bangladesh High Commission gathered at Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel in the early hours of today (February 21) to commemorate United Nations' (UN) International Mother Language Day.  

The day, also known as Martyrs’ Day, is observed annually on 21 February across the world to highlight the importance of language preservation in safeguarding cultural heritage, improving education, and fostering more peaceful societies.  

In Tower Hamlets, the annual remembrance event is hosted by Tower Hamlets Council in partnership with the Kendrio Shaheed Minar Committee (KSMC).   

February 21 is the anniversary of the killing of four students in Bangladesh in 1952, during a campaign to officially use their mother language, Bengali. It has been a public holiday in Bangladesh since 1953.  

The Shaheed Minar (‘Martyrs Monument’) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which commemorates those students, has a replica in Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel, which is the focus for public tribute in Tower Hamlets.  

The theme of this year’s celebration is Silver Jubilee Celebration of International Mother Language Day. 

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. 

This year celebrates a quarter-century of efforts to preserve linguistic diversity and promote mother tongues.  

According to the UN, mother tongue education supports learning, literacy, and the acquisition of additional languages.  

Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Her Excellency Abida Islam, High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, and Nurul Islam, General Secretary of Kendrio Shaheed Minar Committee laid wreaths at Shaheed Minar in Altab Ali Park.  

Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:  
“We are privileged to observe International Mother Language Day and honour those who made significant sacrifices for the recognition of their native languages. Tower Hamlets is a community that welcomes individuals from many backgrounds. The theme of this year’s commemoration highlights the importance of celebrating linguistic diversity." 

Her Excellency Abida Islam, High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, said:  
“As the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK, it was a great honour to join the Mayor of Tower Hamlets and the British Bangladeshi diaspora at the Altab Ali Park Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the fearless Bengali Language Martyrs of 1952. This occasion was also a moment of profound significance as we marked the silver jubilee of UNESCO’s recognition of International Mother Language Day in 1999—a powerful testament to the enduring importance of linguistic diversity and the preservation of cultural heritage.”