PM calls for correct practice of Bangla language

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to remain careful about the correct practice of Bangla language and particularly the new generation to be more cautious about spelling and pronunciation of words.

"Growing practice of Bangla language is very encouraging as errors are corrected through practices. But, we have to remain careful about the correct practice of the language," she said while inaugurating a five-day programme orgainzed by International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) marking the International Mother Language Day-2017 in its auditorium here yesterday.

Urging the new generation to be more careful about the use of Bangla language, the Prime Minister said there are allegations of distorting the language. But there has a particular rule of spelling and pronunciation of standard Bangla words, what should not be compromised, she said.

"Youths must refrain from the habit of misspelling and mispronunciation of the Bangla language. So, they should be more careful while using, spelling and pronouncing Bangla words," she said adding that regional dialects should not be ignored as they also have distinctiveness.

"Bangla language is a scientific one. Any change or expansion of the language should be done according to the linguistic rules," she added.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid presided over the function while advisor of UNESCO on language issue Anvita Abbi presented the keynote paper on the theme of the day titled "Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education".

UNESCO representative in Dhaka Ms. Beatrice Kaldun, Education Secretary Sohrab Hossain and Director General of Institute Dr Jinat Imtiaz Ali spoke, among others, on the occasion.

Pointing out her government's initiative for extensive use of Bangla in the studies, daily activities and research on science, knowledge and technologies, she said Bangala keypad has been introduced in mobile phone as well as dot.bangla domain for internet browsing.

Bangla speaking people would be able to open web address in Bangla alphabet and use internet in Bangla very soon, she said adding that an apps has also been produced from where people can learn nine languages.

Clearing her position in favour of learning foreign languages, the Prime Minister said, "We are not against the learning of foreign languages. If anybody has ability, he/she should learn more languages. However, everybody should learn the mother language first. Knowledge in other languages would be the additional quality of an individual, she said.

Congratulating the Bengali speaking people across the globe and other small linguistic groups on the International Mother Language Day-2017, the Prime Minister said international recognition to the Ekushey February is a matter of great pride for the people of Bangladesh who set example of supreme sacrifice to protect the dignity of their mother language.

"Now the Ekushey February is not a wealth of Bangladesh only, but also of global people, as more than 190 countries now observe the day commemorating the sacrifice of Bangalee people for protecting the dignity of the mother language," she said.

Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the language movement and recalled the memories of the language veterans as well as Father of the Nation who had played a marshal role in organizing the language movement in 1952.

She said Bangalee nation has a trait of many uniqueness. History says they were vocal against all repressions and intimidations since ancient age. The nation never easily bowed its head to others during a long struggle against the exotic empires from Gupta era to Sultani era, Mughal era, British era and Pakistani autocratic regime. They always protected their tradition, language and cultural exceptionality, she said.

The Prime Minister said Bangalee people had to go through many stormy situations for their sustenance as a nation. Anti-liberation forces killed Father of the Nation and made their constant efforts to erase his name from the history as well as culture and heritage of the Bangalee nation.

But Bangalee people could manage to protect their heritage and culture by overcoming all hurdles. Probably, Bangalee is the only nation in the world to set example of sacrificing their lives for the mother language, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangla is one of the richest languages of the world and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed the UN General Assembly in this language, giving it new strata in the global arena.

"We are following the footprint of Bangladeshu," she said adding that she also, in her every presence, is delivering speech in Bangla in the UNGA. The government is also making its constant endevour to establish Bangla as one of the official languages of the UN, she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the spirit of Ekushey February is now implanted in every nation and minority group across the world deprived of speaking in their mother language. Global recognition to the Ekushey has entrusted the responsibility on Bangladesh to protect the rights of the global people.

Out of that responsibility, the Prime Minister said, her government has established the IMLI in Dhaka, creating facilities for researchers from home and abroad to conduct their study and research on mother language. Particularly, work for preservation and standardization of the languages which have no specific rule how to write, would begin soon, she said.

The Prime Minister thanks UNESCO for upgrading the IMLI as a second category organization hoping that one day the institute would grow up as an international organization with distinct entity.

Source: BSS