International Mother Language Day, which falls on 21 February, has been recognised by the UN since 1999. However, this celebration of cultural and linguistic diversity has its roots in a 1950s movement that fought for the right to speak Bangla in Bangladesh, then called East Pakistan.
Listen to SBS Bangla programs on the radio, on the SBS Bangla Radio app and on our website, every Monday and Saturday from 6pm to 7pm.