Girls decorate flowers at Central Shahid Minar . Central Shahid Minar ( Monument for the martyr of Language Movement during 21 February 1952 ) at Dhaka covered with flowers on the eve of International Mother Language Day . On 21 February 1952 , corresponding to 8 Falgun 1359 in the Bangla calendar , a number of students campaigning for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan were killed when police fired upon them . Since 2000 , 21 February observed as International Mother Language Day in tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue . Dhaka , Bangladesh .
