Unesco's General Conference proclaimed February 21 as IMLD in November 1999, and it was celebrated for the first time across the globe in 2000.

Wolfgang Vollmann, the Director and Unesco Representative in Bangladesh, told The Daily Star that the background of February 21 could be placed as an example of a nation's sacrifice for their mother language.

"But the offer should come from the government of Bangladesh," he added.

The officials of the education ministry, however, said that Unesco already has adequate documents in this regard.

"We furnished them with all the necessary documents relating to the Language Movement when we submitted the proposal in 1999 to declare February 21 as International Mother Language Day," said Mohammad Asabur Rahman, additional secretary of the education ministry.

They could easily have the historical background included in their website, he added.

In 1999 the Bangladesh government decided to translate the history of Ekushey into six official languages of the UN and send it to 188 countries.

Though most of the UN member states at that time had shown keen interest in the idea, the Bangladesh government failed to translate its decision into action. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Education shift the blame onto each other for the failure to do the job.

"This is a matter usually dealt with by the education ministry. So they should contact the Unesco in this regard," said Begum Selima Rahman, state minister for cultural affairs.

"Sending such proposal and relevant documents is the responsibility of the cultural affairs ministry," said Mohammad Asabur Rahman, additional secretary, ministry of education.