Bangladesh: Information on Martyr Day celebrations on 21 February of each year, which bring a two-week school break at the post-secondary level from 15 February until 1 March

Publisher	Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Author	Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada
Publication Date	1 May 1991
Citation / Document Symbol	BGD8696
Cite as	Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Information on Martyr Day celebrations on 21 February of each year, which bring a two-week school break at the post-secondary level from 15 February until 1 March, 1 May 1991, BGD8696, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab713c.html [accessed 17 September 2023]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Martyr Day, referred to as Ekushey Day, is celebrated on 21 February of each year. It commemorates the death of students during riots provoked by attempts, in 1952, to impose Urdu as the second language in East Pakistan (at the time) (Heitzman & Worden 1988, xxx; Santiago 1985, 21). According to a Bangladeshi interpreter now living in Montreal, Martyr Day is a very important celebration in Bangladesh and is considered by many Bangladeshis as the beginning of Independence (Bangladeshi interpreter 24 May 1991). For further information on Martyr Day celebrations, please refer to the attached news articles describing the national holiday in the 1980s.

According to the Bangladeshi interpreter, there is no two-week school break in February or in March. However, there is a two-week summer holiday at the beginning of the summer, which would be around the end of May (Bangladeshi interpreter 24 May 1991).

Bibliography:

J. Heitzman & A. L. Worden, eds. 1988. Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

José Roleo Santiago. 1985. Bangladesh: A Travel Survival Kit. Cal.: Lonely Planet Publications.

Reuters. 21 February 1991. Atiqui Alam. "Barefoot Bangladeshis Celebrate Ekushey Language Day".

Reuters. 21 February 1990. Atiqui Alam. "Rival Groups Clash On Bangladesh Language Day, 50 Injured".

Reuters. 21 February 1988. Atiqui Alam. "At Least 20 Hurt in Bombings at Bangladesh Ceremony".

Reuters. 21 February 1987. Anis Ahmed. "Ershad Stays Home as Bangladesh Honours Language-Riot Victims".

Reuters. 21 February 1986. Atiqui Alam. "Thirty Wounded as Bangladesh Opposition Rivals Clash".

The Christian Science Monitor. 1 March 1984. Mary Anne Weaver. "Bangladesh's General-Cum-Poet Tries to Become a President".

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 22 February 1983. "Language Movement Martyrs Commemorated in Bangladesh".

Bangladeshi interpreter, Montreal. 24 May 1991. Telephone Interview.

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