PM: We never want our mother tongue to be lost

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said it is not expected that the mother tongue will be lost under the “stress of civilization.” “Time is changing and civilization is marching forward with the technological advancement. But, we never want our mother tongue to be lost under the stress of civilization,” she said. She was addressing the inauguration of the three-day International Bengali Literature Conference, Bangla year 1424, at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday. The prime minister said the practice of literature imparts a great deal of knowledge and good sense to human beings, and encourages people to establish a just and equitable society. “It teaches us to fight against injustice and untruth,” she said. “Our Bangla literature also has very deep roots and that’s why it has secured its dignified position in the world. Our independence and self-identity all have their roots in Bangla,” Sheikh Hasina added. The prime minister also expressed hope that the conference would enrich the literature of different languages through the exchange of ideas and experiences between litterateurs. “Bangla literature will be enriched further with the arrangement of such a literary event,” she continued. She said the Bangali people had been attacked several times in the past, but all assaults were successfully resisted. “Bangladesh is the only country in the subcontinent that emerged through a language movement.” Regarding the recognition of February 21 as International Mother Language Day, Sheikh Hasina said the day has now become a source of inspiration for establishing the rights of all people across the world. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established the pride and dignity of the Bangla language in the international arena through his historic speech in Bangla at the 30th UN General Assembly session in 1974, the premier added, saying she feels proud to follow in his footsteps every time she speaks at the UNGA herself. About her government’s initiatives to preserve different languages, she said the International Mother Language Institute was set up in Dhaka to conduct quality research in this regard. Litterateur Rabeya Khatun, Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahittya Sammilon General Secretary Jayonta Ghosh and Vice President Pradip Bhattachariya also addressed the ceremony, with convener of the conference organizing committee Prof Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman in chair. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor recited a poem by Syed Shamsul Haque, while chief coordinator of the conference Nasiruddin Yusuff Bachchu delivered the welcome address. Over 300 litterateurs, poets, writers and intellectuals from countries across the world, including India, the United States and Germany, are attending the conference. Books translated into different languages and magazines have been put on display on the Bangla Academy premises. The conference will feature seminars, stage performances, musical events and film shows. Gurusaday Dutt’s famous quote ‘Biswamanob hobi jodi kaimone Bangali ha’ (be a Bangali with heart and soul if you want to be a universal figure), has been picked as the driving force behind the conference’s theme.