ZCZC
BSS-40
PM-MESSAGE-EKUSHEY-THREE-LAST-DHAKA
In independent Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman directed the use of Bangla in all official activities and made Bangla the state language in the constitution.
He (Bangabandhu) delivered a speech at the United Nations in Bangla and placed “our mother language” to a dignified position in the world assembly, the premier said.
“During the 1996-2001 term of our government, Rafiq and Salam, two Bangladeshi expatriates from Canada along with some members of the international community formed the ‘Mother Language Preservation Committee”, she said, adding that they sent a proposal to the United Nations to celebrate International Mother Language Day on February 21.
Since the UN does not take cognizance of any personal proposal, they suggested sending the proposal to UNESCO from the state, the Prime Minister said.
“When we knew, we did not have much time; we contacted the Committee for the Preservation of the Mother Language and sent our proposal to UNESCO through a quick fax message on October 9, 1999. We had to decide within 24 hours. We seek the supports of member states through our embassies,” she said.
As a result, on November 17, 1999, the UNESCO recognized February 21 as the ‘International Mother Language Day’, the premier said, adding, “We have established the International Mother Language Institute as well as taken initiatives to preserve endangered languages and protect their dignity”.
Noting that the government has ensured the use of the Bangla language in the ICT and introduced textbooks for ethnic groups in five languages at the primary level and is trying to get Bangla recognized as the official language of the United Nations, the head of the government said.
She also said that a particular group of people is found always active in denigrating the contribution of the Father of the Nation in the flourishing of Bangali identity and establishing the dignity of the Bangla language.
With the publication of the Unfinished Memoire of the Father of the Nation and the Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch of Pakistan, it has been possible to frustrate all such malpractices, Sheikh Hasina added.
Based on a particular spirit, she said, “We have established the right to language and on the same spirit and achieved our independence”.
In the last 12 years, the government has made tremendous progress in every area of the socio-economic sector of the country, embracing that particular ethos and the logos of the Father of the Nation, the Prime Minister said, adding that Bangladesh is a role model of development in the world now.
“We are celebrating ‘the year 2020-21 as Mujib Year’. Next month we will celebrate the golden jubilee of independence,” she said, adding that her government has prepared the second perspective plan 2021-2041 for the next 20 years period and have adopted the 8th Five Year Plan.
“Insha Allah, soon we will establish the developed, prosperous and non-communal ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as per the dream of the father of the nation,” Sheikh Hasina said.
BSS/PR/SAH/MRU/1904hrs