The Bengali Language Movement was a political and cultural campaign in the 1950s aimed at recognizing the Bengali language as one of the official languages of what was then East Pakistan. The movement arose in response to the Pakistani government's decision to impose Urdu as the sole national language, which marginalized the Bengali-speaking population. On February 21, 1952, students and activists protested in Dhaka for their linguistic rights. The police opened fire, resulting in several deaths. This tragic event is commemorated annually as International Mother Language Day, highlighting the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide.