No International Mother Language day event at Petrapole border amid Hindu atrocities in Bangladesh

The annual International Mother Language Day event at the India-Bangladesh Petrapole border was not held on the Bangladeshi side this year. This cross-border event, traditionally observed on February 21 to commemorate the 1952 Bengali language movement, usually sees participation from both nations. However, with rising reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, no official celebration took place across the border. The event typically involves cultural programs, tributes to language martyrs, and discussions on linguistic heritage.

International Mother Language Day marks the historic movement when students in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) protested to establish Bengali as an official language. On February 21, 1952, police opened fire on demonstrators in Dhaka, killing Abul Barkat, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar, Abdus Salam, and others. In 1947, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah had first proposed recognizing Bengali as a state language, but the Pakistan Legislative Assembly rejected the demand in 1948. Protests continued, leading to the deaths of demonstrators, and Bengali was finally recognized in 1956 as one of Pakistan’s state languages. In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.

Recent years have seen increasing incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, with reports of attacks on temples, homes, and businesses. Human rights organizations have documented cases of targeted violence, leading to concerns over the safety of minorities. The absence of the event at Petrapole this year is being seen as a reflection of the growing communal tensions. While India observed the day with tributes and programs, no official statement has been issued from Bangladesh regarding the cancellation of the event on their side of the border.