PEN Bangladesh, a bilingual society of Bangladesh-based writers, poets, publishers, editors, translators, journalists and academics, observed the International Mother Language Day with great reverence and respect on February 21.
President of PEN Bangladesh and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) Professor Dr Shamsad Mortuza delivered his welcome speech at the virtual event, conducted on the Zoom platform, started at 3:00 PM.
Special guest Urtzi Urrutikoetxea, chairman of the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee of PEN International, also participated in the event, adding an international dimension to the proceedings.
The program featured a documentation of the Language Movement through photographs, books, and journals, presented live from Barisal by Anisur Rahman Swapan.
Swapan has been organizing similar exhibitions for many years on Language Martyrs' Day, preserving the rich history of the movement.
Author and researcher Supa Sadia shared insights from her book Bayanno 52 Nari ("The 52 Women of 1952") in a session moderated by Shakira Parveen.
The event also included poignant poetry recitation in Bengali by Asad Mannan, Asma Chowdhury, Mustafa Tariqul Ahsan, Shahnaz Nasreen, Saroj Mostafa, Ashraf Jewel, Anif Rubed, Shakira Parveen, Zahid Sohag and Hemayet Ullah Imon.
In addition, poems were recited in Achik by Parag Rishil, in Santhali by Ishan Shanto and in Mal Pahariya by Joy Christopher Biswas, highlighting the linguistic diversity of the region.