Mamata’s Twitter handle in Bengali for Int’l Mother Language Day

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid homage to Bhasa Sahids by writing her twitter profile name in a Bengali font.

After writing her name in Bengali font, she tweeted: “21 February is International Mother Language Day. I have changed my profile name to Bangla in memory of the 1952 Bhasha Shahids (martyrs).”

In 1952 the people of erstwhile East Pakistan refused to accept the decision of Pakistan to introduce Urdu as the mother tongue. Dhirendranath Dutta and his son were arrested in Dhaka and taken to Islamabad where they were put behind the bars. Meanwhile, in erstwhile East Pakistan people organised movements demanding release of the duo. They refused to carry out official work in Urdu language. On February 21 processions were carried out all over the then East Pakistan demanding withdrawal of Urdu. It was declared as the official language. The police open fired, thus killing hundreds of people. Dutta and his son were tortured to death.  

After liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 Bengali became the official language of the country and February 21 is celebrated as Mother Language Day by Bengalis throughout the world.