UNESCO to celebrate silver jubilee of International Mother Language Day

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is set to celebrate the silver jubilee of International Mother Language Day on February 21, 2025.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Paris announced that during the 219th meeting of the UNESCO Executive Board, held at its Paris headquarters, a unanimous decision was reached. Sixty-three member states of UNESCO endorsed the proposal put forward by Bangladesh.

Apart from festivities at UNESCO headquarters, the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day will also be celebrated at its regional and local offices.

All member states have been urged to participate in marking the silver jubilee of International Mother Language Day.

Khondker M Talha, the Bangladesh Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UNESCO, expressed gratitude to the member states of UNESCO.

He extended his appreciation to all involved parties for recognizing the universality of sign language and elevating its status to that of a mother tongue.

The ambassador said the decision was yet another recognition of the leadership and concerted efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the preservation, promotion and expansion of the mother tongue and sign language.

In 1999, the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.