New York, 21 February 2023:
International Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2023 has been celebrated at the UN headquarters today for
the 7th consecutive year. The Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Denmark, Guatemala, Hungary, India,
Morocco and Timor-Leste jointly organized the event in partnership with the UN Secretariat and UNESCO. The
President of the 77 th Session of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi graced the event as the Chief guest.
Like last year, the IMLD was celebrated with interpretation services in all six official languages of the
United Nations, enabling the distinguished speakers deliver their remarks in their mother tongue. The theme
song of the IMLD (amar bhai-er rokte rangano…) was presented by the Sri Chinmoy Group. The discussion was
followed by a rich multi-cultural performances. It featured musical performances from United Nations Chamber
Music Society, Sneh Art of India and flute performance by Shilpokala Academy USA Inc. The event was telecast
live on the U Web TV.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador
Muhammad Abdul Muhith paid deep homage to the language martyrs for upholding the sanctity of Bangla in
1952, and to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for leading the language movement
and the subsequent national movements culminating to our liberation in 1971. He recalled with gratitude the
role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in securing UNESCO’s recognition of 21st February as the international
mother language day at the initiative of expatriate Bangladeshis and also in establishing the International
Mother language Institute in Dhaka.
Ambassador Muhith thanked UNESCO for choosing this year’s theme-“Multilingual education–a
necessity to transform education”. ‘Multilingual education inclusive of mother-tongue based learning can play
instrumental role in transforming education system by underlining the importance of cultural and linguistic
diversity, relevance of learning to learners’ lives and mutual understanding’-he further added.
The Permanent Representative of Cuba in his capacity of the Chair of the Group of Friends on Spanish
language and Chair of the NGO Committee on Language and Languages also spoke at the event.
The President of the General Assembly and all the other speakers thanked Bangladesh for its leadership
in promoting multilingualism and mother tongues in the UN.  They all recognized the potential role that
multilingual education can play in transforming education for all. Speaking in their respective mother tongues,
the speakers highlighted the critical importance of including mother tongue in the education system worldwide.
The event venue was full with a significant numbers Ambassadors, diplomats from different countries,
high officials from the UN Secretariat, civil society and Bangladeshi community representatives.
Earlier in the morning the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh observed the Martyrs Day and the
International Mother Language Day with due solemnity in the Mission’s premises. The Permanent
Representative and the mission officials laid floral wreath in the Shaheed Minar established in the mission.
During the event the messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign
Affairs were delivered.