By Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh.
Likewise last fifteen years, the world will observe International Mother’s Language Day on 21 February 2015. As per the proclamation of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), every year February 21 is observed around the world as ‘International Mother Language Day’ since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
As per the United Nations, the theme for 2015 is ‘Inclusive Education through and with Language-Language Matters’.
The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of what is now Bangladesh.
The world came to acknowledge this blood earned right to speak in her/his mother tongue in Bangladesh when UNESCO decided to celebrate this day as International Mother Language Day since 2000.
UNESCO stresses upon importance of promoting such languages by saying: “All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue”.
UNESCO noted that the “languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage“.
Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague is hosting a daylong event to sensitize children of Bangladesh origin parents’ as well as our Dutch friends and peers about the importance of the day.
We would like them to know how important it is to practice mother tongue as they wish to become members of this globalized village. The daylong celebration could motivate children to become proficient in their respective mother language along with continuing their studies in Dutch/German/French/English or any other language of their choice.
These celebrations help maintain a national togetherness and help promote the oneness in our diversified nation. The children through these celebrations could develop a value for their nation and understand the essence of our culture.
We will, of course, avail this day to pay, which we call Amor Ekushey, tributes to those martyrs who sacrificed their lives so that we continue to speak in our mother tongue “Bangla”. This video may give you a better idea about the spirit of this day.
We, therefore, request you to become a partner in highlighting the spirit of the International Mother Language Day for your viewers/readers and patrons and more importantly, for your children.
Wish you well on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day 2015.
