21^st February or Martyr's Day is celebrated in order to commemorate the sacrifices of Mohammad Salauddin, Abdul Jabbar, Abul Barkat, Rafiquddin Ahmed and Abdus Salam who died to protect our mother language, Bangla. Their valor and patriotism inspired many other people throughout our country, which at the time was East Pakistan.

The revolution started when Tamuddin Majlis demanded Bangla as a state language of Pakistan in the booklet “State Language of Pakistan: Bengali or Urdu”. This sparked demonstrations and rallies from Dhaka University students under the leadership of Abul Kashem, secretary of Majlis. Later on 26^th January 1952, Prime Minister Nazimuddin announced that “Urdu and only Urdu will be the official language of Pakistan".  The government also imposed ‘Section 144’ banning any gatherings of more than four people. On 21 February 1952, student groups defied this ban and continued their protests. The police opened fire on them, thus killed those students that we remember today.

UNESCO recognized 21 February as world language day on 17 November 1999 in order to honor these patriots and promote the recognition of different languages. It is a public holiday in Bangladesh and people celebrate it by wearing black & white. It is customary for people to walk barefoot to the Shahid Minar with a bunch of flowers in their hand and visit the graveyards of the Shaheed. At midnight, the President followed by the Prime Minister and other political leaders pay homage to the martyrs. Book fairs, literary competitions and music shows are held throughout the country to evoke the feeling of pride for our language. 

A song called, "Amar bhaier rokto rangano", composed by famous author Mr. Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, represents the true nature and heart-touching emotions associated with the day. Listeners of BBC Bengali Service have voted this as the thir best song in Bengali.