On 21 February (2 March) on behalf of UNESCO as International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is named. The naming of this day in the General Conference of UNESCO in 1999, to contribute to linguistic and cultural diversity has been done. The UN General Assembly is also due to the importance of it. the year 2008 International Year of languages declared.

because of the naming International Mother Language Day started when in 1952 the students in the various universities in the city of Dhaka, the capital of modern Bangladesh at that time, Pakistan was called, and still independent, was not, including students from the University of Dhaka and School of medicine it trying to nationalization of the Bengali language as the second language of Pakistan (alongside Urdu) demonstration peaceful in this city, however, they. Looking for this move the students, the police shooting them has, some of them cultivated. After the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, and at the request of the country, for the first time, the organization UNESCO on 17 November 1999 on 21 February, the equal second and sometimes a third Reuters) - the International Mother Language Day, unpacking, and from the year 2000 this day in the most countries cherish to be and programs in connection with this day will be held.

Also in Iran for the first time on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, a second march year 82 equal to 21 February 2004, was held at the University of Science and technology, by students leaving university was held in Tehran.