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Dhaka City Day Tour
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21 February 2027
Ekushey February: International Mother Language Day
On 21 February 1952, students in Dhaka were shot dead while demanding that Bangla be a state language. Every year on Ekushey February (“the 21st of February”) Bangladesh remembers them, and since 2000 the world has marked the day as International Mother Language Day, declared by UNESCO in 1999.
It is a solemn, moving day rather than a festival, and visitors are welcome to join the tributes. Updated 21 October 2026.
Date
Ekushey February is always on 21 February, a public holiday. In 2027 it falls on a Sunday.
How Ekushey February 2026 was marked
On 21 February 2026 the President laid the first wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight, followed by the Prime Minister and the opposition. Then the public came, many barefoot and carrying flowers, through the night and the morning, under tight security with traffic diverted around the university.
What happens
- Official wreaths at midnight, then a long public procession to the Minar with flowers.
- Prabhat pheri, barefoot dawn processions singing “Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano”.
- Flags fly at half-mast across the country.
Getting there
The Central Shaheed Minar is beside Dhaka Medical College and Dhaka University. Vehicles cannot get close on the day: walk in from Palashi or Jagannath Hall, following the police route, or take the metro to Dhaka University station.
Tips for visiting
- Dress soberly, in white or black.
- Take your shoes off near the Minar, and do not climb the monument.
- Buy a few flowers from the sellers nearby to lay at the Minar.
- Photography is fine if it is respectful; it is a day of mourning.
Visiting with us
Our guides can take you to the Minar at dawn and tell the story of the Language Movement. In 2027 the Ekushey Book Fair runs earlier than usual, from 7 January to 6 February; see Ekushey Book Fair. Plan your trip.
Ekushey February FAQs
Why is 21 February Mother Language Day?
Because of the Language Movement of 1952 in Dhaka. UNESCO declared 21 February International Mother Language Day in 1999, to honour it and to promote all languages.
Can foreigners visit the Shaheed Minar on 21 February?
Yes. Join the queue respectfully, with flowers if you like, and go at dawn or later in the morning to avoid the biggest crowds.
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