The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has announced plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day on February 21, 2025.

During the 219th meeting of the Unesco executive board held at its headquarters in Paris, the decision received unanimous support. The Bangladesh Embassy in Paris confirmed that the proposal, initiated by Bangladesh, garnered backing from 63 Unesco member states.

In addition to festivities at Unesco headquarters, the silver jubilee of International Mother Language Day will be commemorated at regional and local offices worldwide. All member states have been encouraged to participate in the celebration.

Khondker M Talha, Bangladesh's Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to Unesco, expressed gratitude to the member states for their support. He highlighted the significance of recognizing sign language as a universal language alongside mother tongues.

The ambassador credited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her leadership and dedication to preserving, promoting, and expanding mother tongues and sign language. He anticipated that the decision would lead to various programs both domestically and internationally to honor mother tongues.

The global observance of International Mother Language Day is hailed as a diplomatic success for Bangladesh, providing an opportunity to showcase the country's rich history of the Language Movement and its sacrifice for linguistic diversity.

Established in 1999, International Mother Language Day aims to promote linguistic diversity, multilingual education, and cultural traditions worldwide, fostering understanding, tolerance, and dialogue among nations. Member states are encouraged to organize activities and exhibitions to promote and develop mother languages.