RBPP Bangla School marks 'International Mother Language Day'

Rochdale Bangladeshi Partnership Project Bangla School on “International Mother Language Day”

Rochdale Bangladeshi Partnership Project (RBPP) has been promoting the International Mother Language Day for a number of years and on Sunday at the RBPP Bangla School children were shown a presentation about the history behind the day.

Dobir Miah, Co-ordinator of RBPP, said: “Language not only communicates, it defines culture, nature, history, humanity and ancestry. We should all be able to communicate in whatever language our mother speaks without fear or prejudice.

"Bangladesh was the only country to be liberated because of its language and since 1999 UNESCO has marked 21 February as International Mother Language Day to celebrate cultural diversity and multilingualism for which we are very pleased and honoured.

"On behalf of the Rochdale Bangladeshi Partnership project we hope everyone speaks their mother tongue with pride and all the very best wishes on the occasion of Ekushey February. We were really pleased to see the children attend with their parents to take part.

"In the life of a Bangladeshi Ekushey February is a moment of tragedy and triumph. 64 years ago on this day Bangladesh lost some among its youth, the intrepid souls who knew no compromise on the question of their national pride and dignity and waged a relentless struggle to uphold the cause of the mother tongue.

"On this momentous occasion, Bangladeshis all over the world pay their deepest homage to those martyrs who rose to the challenge which confronted the people at that time. These martyrs have left a legacy that will be an abiding source of pride and glory. Their names shall never be erased from history. Ekushey February played an important role in making Bengalis aware of their cultural and national heritage and ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Bangladeshis owe whatever cultural vibrancy they possess largely to the glorious Ekushey."