United Nations, Sep 28 (IANS) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants Bengali to be named an official United Nations language to reflect the vast number of its speakers - nearly 300 million people - and its heritage in literature and history.

An international movement to celebrate the use of mother languages was growing stronger every year, she noted in an address to the UN General Assembly's annual high-level segment Saturday.

"Since Bangla (as Bengali is known among its speakers) is spoken by nearly 300 million people worldwide, has a rich history in literature, history and in other fields, our Parliament adopted a resolution requesting the UN to declare Bangla as one of its official languages," she said.

"I fervently appeal to you all for acceptance of our very legitimate request."

There are currently six official languages at the UN - English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) observes International Mother Language Day Feb 21, commemorating the day in 1952 when students demonstrating peacefully for Bengali to be made an official language of what was then East Pakistan were shot dead by armed forces.