Description : Girls decorate flowers at Central Shahid Minar. Central Shahid Minar (Monument for the martyr of Language Movement during 21 952) at Dhaka covered with flowers on the eve of International Mother Language Day. On 21 952, 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.