Language Movement Day 2024 (Bangladesh): Language Movement Day is being observed on February 21. This day is in remembrance of the individuals who gave their lives in defense of their language. Bangladesh observes a national holiday on this day. Language Movement Day is an alternative designation for State Language Day. The observance honors the martyrs of the Bengali language movements. The day is observed on a global scale in appreciation of cultural and linguistic diversity. Additionally, the day is observed in West Bengal, an Indian state that shares borders with Bangladesh. Shahid Dibash, also referred to as Bhasha Dibas, is held in West Bengal with the same regard and devotion.
Language Movement Day History
Language is a potent instrument that facilitates effortless communication with others. We engage in the majority of our communication via verbal channels. Proximate and action-oriented, the earliest forms of language are estimated to have existed for as long as 1.8 million years. Historically, the primary functions of communication were to facilitate hunting, sustenance sharing, mate selection, and herb gathering. Nonetheless, as Homo sapiens progressed, our intelligence vastly increased. Language evolution occurred concurrently with human civilizations. The emergence of spoken language occurred approximately 50,000 years ago. Even though certainty is unattainable, words do not produce fossilized remains.
The emergence of the earliest written languages occurred around 3000 BCE. Sumerian is widely regarded as the world’s earliest extant written language. In addition to Hebrew, Sanskrit, Egyptian, and Sanskrit, additional ancient civilizations also gave rise to written languages. With the expansion of human politics throughout Asia and Europe, these languages evolved into additional regional dialects. Bengali originated from Magadhi Prakrit, a language that was in use as of 1000 A.D.
Bengali, which is spoken by more than 300 million native speakers, is among the most widely spoken languages globally. Following the cessation of colonial rule, the British were compelled to withdraw from the Indian subcontinent. India was partitioned by the British into three dominions: East Pakistan, West Pakistan, and India. East and West Pakistan were formerly a unified entity, wherein West Pakistan held a preponderance of political authority.
Despite being the predominant language of East Pakistan, their association with the Bengali language was limited. A dispute arose between the two divisions regarding the official language. As the Bengali Language Movement emerged, opposition to Urdu as the sole national language grew. As a consequence of subsequent conflicts and riots, police shot and killed student protesters. The triumph of the movements ultimately contributed to the emergence of a nationalistic sentiment that culminated in the establishment of Bangladesh.
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FAQs for Language Movement Day
Who was the first martyr of a language?
In 1952, while participating in the Bengali Language Movement in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh), Rafiquddin Ahmed was assassinated.
Who are referred to as “language martyrs”?
Shafiur Rahman, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar, Rafiquddin Ahmed, and Abdus Salam are regarded as the five most significant language martyrs in Bangladesh.
Define Bhasha Dibas.
The festival Bhasha Dibas is analogous to Shahid Dibas, which is also known as Language Martyrs’ Day. It is observed with equal degrees of reverence and zeal in West Bengal.
Day of Language Movement Observance
Enumerate every language.
The world contains thousands of languages, each of which has its own set of dialects. Try to compile a comprehensive inventory of the locations and birth years of every language.
Dialogue concerning language discrimination
Language discrimination continues to be a significant problem in numerous regions across the globe. However, the news is not gaining the necessary amount of prominence. Attempt to disseminate such information and aid in bringing attention to language discrimination.
Make an effort to master a second language.
Every individual is proficient in at least one language. Developing another can be difficult. Commence learning another language today.
Five fascinating language facts you should be aware of
Quantity of tongues
Globally, 2,700 distinct languages are spoken, each of which contains more than 7,000 dialects.
The least widely used language
The Busuu language is the least widely spoken, with only a smattering of speakers remaining.
The bilingual populace
Approximately 50% of the global populace possesses proficiency in dual languages.
The nation with the greatest variety of languages
More than 840 languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea, making it the most linguistically diverse nation on earth.
Ancient vernacular
Following Sumerian as the earliest extant written language is the Egyptian language.
LANGUAGE MOVEMENT DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | February 21 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | February 21 | Friday |
| 2026 | February 21 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 21 | Sunday |
| 2028 | February 21 | Monday |
