Feb.20 is not only Presidents Day, but also Mother Language Day, and members of the Bangladeshi community in Parkchester gathered to honor their language and culture.

Mother Language Day is celebrated worldwide to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity. The Bangladeshi community in New York celebrated by honoring those who have fought to preserve their mother tongue, Bengali or Bangla.

During the independence movement in 1952, university students protested for their right to speak their own language. Many were beaten, with some losing their lives to the Bangladesh government.

With the help of Council member Amanda Farias, Mother Language Day is now an official holiday in New York City.

While it only recently became an official holiday, the community has been celebrating Mother Language Day since 1992 and hope to continue the tradition for generations to come.