So significant was this incident that this day went on to be commemorated by the UN as ‘International Mother Language Day,’ recognising the love and respect for one’s linguistic identity. In 2002, Bangla was announced as one of the official languages in the Republic of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. Sierra Leone, a country far away from Bangladesh, both geographically and culturally has had a special relation with the latter. During this period, the United Nations had to deploy a large force in Sierra Leone for the sake of maintaining peace. The contribution made by the Bangladeshi peacekeeping force was hugely appreciated by the Sierra Leone government.

Source: Indian Express February 21, 2017 13:49 UTC