International Mother Language Day is celebrated on February 21 each year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999, the day highlights the importance of preserving and protecting all languages, especially those that are endangered. The date was chosen to honor the Bengali language movement in Bangladesh, where students protested for their right to speak their mother tongue in 1952. This observance encourages multilingualism and aims to foster respect for different languages and cultures around the world.