ZCZC
BSS-25
PM-EKUSHEY-DISCUSSION-2-DHAKA
Urging all to give due honour to other languages, the prime minister said none should hate languages of others, rather in the era of globalization everybody should learn another language for communication with all.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is a land of various ethnic groups, Sheikh Hasina said for younger learners of different ethnic groups, the government has taken steps for publishing textbooks in their mother languages and distributing those books free of cost among students at the beginning of the academic year.
Highlighting the importance of Ekushey, the prime minister said the Ekushey is not for Bangalees only today. “The messages of Ekushey transcended across the world and the International Mother Language Day is being observed in more than 190 countries,” she said
Sheikh Hasina said: “February 21 is the day of establishing the right to speak in our mother tongue. It’s is the symbol of resistance against colonial rule, exploitation and subjugation.”
The premier said the mother language is the main vehicle of the self-esteem for the individual as well as nations. “We express our emotions, feelings, needs and opinions with the help of language,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said language is the existence and identity of an individual as well as a nation. “If the language is attacked, the individual identity and self-esteem is threatened,” she said.
In this regard, the premier quoted from poetry of prominent Bengali poet of the 17th century Abdul Hakim – ‘je-sob bongete jonmi hingse bongo bani, se-sob kaaher jonmo nirnoy na jani’ (those, even born in Bengal, despise the tongue of this land, I cannot tell who those are born to).
Sheikh Hasina also excerpted from the speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who told that “all nations love their mother tongues” and “no nation can bear the insult of its mother tongue.”
The prime minister said the young generation should be known the sacrifice and subjugation the Bangalee nation had suffered to earn independence and the right to speak in the mother tongue.
Focusing on the history of the Language Movement, Sheikh Hasina said although the 21st February in 1952 witnessed the tragic incident, the movement for mother language began much earlier.
At the proposal of Bangabandhu, she said, the State Language Action Council was formed comprising Chhtra League, Tamuddin Majlish and other student organizations in 1948.
This Action Council had called for a general strike on 11th March in 1948 across the country. On that day Bangabandhu was arrested while he was picketing in front of the Secretariat, she said.
Bangabandhu was later released on 15th March, and he had presided over the Action Council meeting at Aamtala of Dhaka University on March 16, the premier said, referring to the book- “Secret Documents of Pakistan Intelligence Branch on Bangabandhu”.
“In the subsequent days, Bangabandhu was at the center of all movements and struggles. For his involvement Bangabandhu had to endure huge torture and persecution of the rulers,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The prime minister hoped that by performing its duty of practicing the mother tongue, conducting research and playing its role in implementing mother tongue-based education, the Mother Language Institute will become one of the epicenters of language research in the world.
At the outset of her speech, Sheikh Hasina expressed her profound shock and sorrow at the loss of lives in a tragic fire incident at Chakbazar in Old Dhaka last night.
She conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members and assured giving all support to the injured persons.
The prime minister also inaugurated a sign version of the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu and unveiled the cover of brail publication of her book “Valobasi Matrivasa”.
She also opened a library of the International Mother Language Institute and an archive of writing rules of different languages.
BSS/AKH/SH/MRU/1954hrs