New York, 27 February 2026: The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations observed the Great Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day 2026 in New York today with due solemnity and dignity in presence of a significant number of ambassadors and diplomats from different countries and high officials from the UN Secretariat. Chief of the office of the Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management Anne Lafeber attended the program as the chief guest. At the outset, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury delivered the welcome remarks. Paying profound tribute to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement of 1952, he stated that the struggle to protect the right to one’s mother tongue is not only a defining chapter in Bangladesh’s history but also a remarkable example of the global pursuit of linguistic diversity and cultural pluralism.

He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to promoting the status of the Bangla language internationally and advancing multilingualism within the United Nations system. He also thanked the UNESCO for their initiative to connect multilingualism with sustainable social development.  The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, along with other distinguished speakers, underscored the significance of the 2026 theme “Many languages, one future: Youth voices on multilingual education.” They emphasized that linguistic diversity is not merely a custodian of cultural heritage, but also a fundamental pillar for sustainable development, social inclusion, and the building of a knowledge-based society.

Today’s youth are the policymakers, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow; therefore, amplifying their voices in multilingual education is essential to shaping a just and inclusive future. Mother tongue-based education fosters children’s creativity and self-confidence, while learning additional languages equips them to become global citizens. If we truly aspire to build “one future,” we must recognize the strength of “many languages,” respect and preserve linguistic diversity within our education systems, and ensure the active participation of young people in this transformative journey. The programme was also attended by Valerie Petit, Liaison Officer of the UNESCO Office in New York; Isabelle Bilterys, Multilingualism Officer; and Mikael Kai Nomura, Officer of the UNESCO Office in New York. It may be recalled that in 1999, UNESCO proclaimed 21 February as International Mother Language Day, and the United Nations General Assembly subsequently recognized its global observance. Inspired by the spirit of Bangladesh’s historic Language Movement, the Day is now commemorated worldwide each year.