Geneva, 21 February 2021:

‘The language movement of 1952 paved the way for an independent Bangladesh which came into being under the able and uncompromising leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In 1999, through the recognition of the ShahidDibash by the UNESCO as the International Mother Language Day, the 21 February standstoday universal crossing the territorial boundary of the country’,thus,Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative Md. Mustafizur Rahman highlighted the significance of the ShahidDibash and International Mother Language Day. In a virtual event organized today on the occasion of the Day by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh, he also said, ‘This recognition has created an urge amongst the global community to preserve all languages of the world’. He urged everyone to build global public opinion for the preservation of all languages including particularly, those are on the verge of being extinct.

Bangladesh expatriate community and various cultural organizations in Switzerland spontaneously joined the discussion. Commemorating the selfless sacrifices of the language martyrs, they highlighted the role of the language movement in the emergence of our Bengali nationalism and birth of an independent Bangladesh. In addition to the discussion, the virtual event also included, inter-alia, observance of one-minute silence to pay homage to the language martyrs, reading out of the messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister of Foreign Affairs, playing of a video documentary, brief cultural programmeand offering of special prayers for the salvation of the departed souls of the language martyrs.