1. When was February 21 declared as International Mother Language Day?

On November 17, 1999 Unesco announced that the day would be observed as such. Bangladesh had forwarded a draft resolution to the effect to Unesco and it was seconded by 28 other nations.

2. Why is the day observed?

To promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity. The UN's member countries are asked to promote and preserve the languages used by their people.

3. The date February 21 was chosen as it was on this day that students of Bangladesh, that was then part of Pakistan, were protesting to get their mother tongue Bengali recognised as a national language along with Urdu. The students were shot and killed. In which year did this incident occur?

1952. The incident and its aftermath resulted in the authorities awarding Bengali equal status as a national language.

4. What is February 21 also celebrated as, in Bangladesh?

Language Revolution Day (Bhasha Andolan Dibas). It commemorates the sacrifices made by the martyrs to protect Bengali as a national language in 1952.

5. Where do Bangladeshis assemble to observe International Mother Language Day?

At Shaheed Minar, a monument that was built in Dhaka at the site of the massacre.

6. India has its own Language Movement Day in May. Why is it observed?

On May 19, 1961 Bengalis in Silchar protested the Assam government's decision to make Assamese the only official language of the state. Police opened fire and killed 11 people. Thereafter Bengali was granted official status in Barak Valley, south Assam, where Bengali is widely spoken. May 19 is observed in the honour of the martyrs.

7. Silchar too has a language movement martyr’s tomb named Shahid Minar. What does the tomb shelter?

Ashes of the martyrs.

8. The firing in Silchar had happened at the railway station, but several groups are now demanding that it be renamed. What do they want it to be renamed as?

Bhasha Sahid Station