Language Martyrs' Day 2025

Description

Language Martyrs' Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh. It remembers people who died in 1952 while asking for Bengali to be a state language. Families visit graves, hold prayers, and lay flowers at Shaheed Minar monuments.

The day takes place on February 21 every year. Schools, offices, and many businesses close. People wear black and red ribbons to show respect and take part in public events with poems and songs.

This day is important because it honors bravery and the right to speak your mother tongue. It helped shape Bangladesh's identity and freedom. UNESCO also chose February 21 as International Mother Language Day to celebrate languages worldwide.

Traditions

Language Martyrs Day on February 21 remembers students who died in 1952 for the Bengali language. People visit the Shaheed Minar monument to lay wreaths and place red and white flowers as a sign of respect and sorrow.

Schools, colleges, and towns hold programs with poems and songs by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. People observe moments of silence, join processions, and wear black badges or white clothing with a red border to show mourning and pride.

Food is simple at home and community gatherings. In Dhaka big crowds come to the central Shaheed Minar while smaller towns and villages hold ceremonies at local monuments and university campuses.

Travel Tips

Language Martyrs Day is solemn. Expect government offices, many banks, and some shops closed. People lay flowers at the Shaheed Minar and there are quiet processions. Traffic can be heavy around memorials and public transport may be crowded.

Enjoy it respectfully. Dress modestly, keep voices low, and join ceremonies if invited. Arrive early to see monuments, carry ID and water, and follow police directions. Take photos respectfully and give space to mourners to experience the day safely and meaningfully.