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Bangladeshi community marks National Language Day today
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Posted on Feb 20 2009
Over a hundred members of the Bangladeshi community on Saipan are expected to join their nation in celebrating their national language today.
In 2000, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Feb. 21 International Mother Language Day for the whole world to celebrate, in tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the Bengali Language Movement and the ethno-linguistic rights of people around the world.
The Bengali Language Movement was a political effort in Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan), advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of Pakistan.
Rakibul Islam Mintu, organizer of the Saipan Bangladesh Cultural Group, yesterday invited members of the Bangladesh community to take part in a prayer at the Garapan central mosque at 8:30pm today.
The prayer will be followed by a cultural program at his former shop beside Bank of Saipan in Garapan.
“This event is important because we remember those who died for the language movement,” Mintu said.
On Feb. 21, 1952, students of the University of Dhaka and other political activities defied the Pakistan government’s ban on public meetings and rallies by organizing a protest. The movement reached its climax when police killed student demonstrators on that day.
The deaths provoked widespread civil unrest led by the Awami Muslim League, later renamed the Awami League. After years of conflict, the central government relented and granted official status to the Bengali language in 1956, until the UNESCO’s declaration of Feb. 21 as International Mother Language Day.
Mintu said the Bangladesh community has seen a decrease in numbers in recent years but he said this should not dampen the spirit of the national language celebration.
