Monument Moments - Bangladesh

Colourful banner with the words South Asian Heritage Month

The Shaheed Minar

Kazi, a BSc student at Lancaster shares about International Mother Language Day:

As a child, my family and I would visit the Shaheed Minar early on February 21st to pay our respects to the martyrs. It was a solemn yet celebratory occasion, filled with pride and unity as we enjoyed street food and markets. We'd also make makeshift monuments with our art teacher at school, paying respects with flowers. The atmosphere, whether at the actual monument or the school's tribute, always felt unified and proud.

The Shaheed Minar (Martyr's Monument) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, commemorates those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952. On February 21 and 22, students and activists were tragically killed by Pakistani police for demanding official status for their native tongue, Bengali.

A makeshift monument erected by students was quickly demolished. However, the Language Movement gained momentum, leading to Bengali gaining official status in Pakistan (alongside Urdu) in 1956. Bangladeshi sculptors Hamidur Rahman and Novera Ahmed designed the current Shaheed Minar. Despite construction delays, it was completed in 1963. Destroyed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, it was rebuilt after independence.

The monument's design features a half-circular arrangement of columns symbolizing a mother embracing her fallen sons, with a red sun rising behind. Standing 14 meters (46 ft) tall and made of marble, it is a powerful symbol. Each year on February 21 (Ekushey February), national mourning and cultural activities centre around the Shaheed Minar to mark Language Movement Day (Martyrs' Day). People in Bangladesh traditionally wear black and white as a mark of mourning and solemnity for the martyrs.

Bangladesh was the first country to fight for its mother tongue. In recognition of this struggle, UNESCO designated February 21 as International Mother Language Day. This global observance promotes awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism, honouring the sacrifices made for language rights.

The Language Movement's significance also resonates among the global Bengali diaspora. A smaller replica of the Shaheed Minar, unveiled on February 17, 1999, stands in Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel, East London. This monument, partly funded by fifty-four local Bangladeshi community organizations, serves as a vital focal point for the British Bengali community, especially during International Mother Language Day.