A commemoration of International Mother Language Day in Washington, D.C., was disrupted by protests against a speech on Bangladesh’s recent political unrest. Salahuddin Mahmud, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Bangladesh Embassy, faced strong opposition from attendees after referencing events linked to protests against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The event, organized by the 21 Alliance, was meant to celebrate linguistic heritage and the sacrifices made for the recognition of the Bengali language. However, tensions escalated when Mahmud’s speech touched on Bangladesh’s recent political climate, drawing an immediate reaction from the audience.
Prior to the event, the organizing committee had agreed that there would be no discussion on Bangladesh’s recent political developments. However, as soon as Mahmud brought up the events of 2024, the audience reacted with strong opposition. The first protest came from Mohasina Jannat Rimi of the Amra Nari (We Are Women) organization. Soon after, others joined in, including Mohammad Sheikh Selim, Moinul Hasan Mujumdar (Tapos), Mohammad Mahamudun Nabi (Baki), G.I. Russell, Dr. Zahid Hossain, Mohammad Hossain (Dulal), Nurul Amin (Nuru), Dr. Mohammad Hossain (Dipu), Jewel Burua, Md. Zunaidul Haque Bhuiyan, Saiful Islam, Masud Talukdar, and Jeba Russell.
As the protests intensified, Mahmud was forced to cut his speech short. The disruption reflected broader divisions within the Bangladeshi diaspora, with some arguing that political realities could not be ignored, while others insisted the event should have remained non-political.
The incident underscored how political tensions in Bangladesh continue to affect communities abroad. Organizers later expressed regret over the disruption and called for future events to remain focused on their original purpose.
