Bangladesh
Mother Language Day Research in the preservation, revival and development of mother tongue is essential: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Dhaka, February 21: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the need for research on the conservation, revival and development of the mother tongue of the world.
"I have always emphasized on research. The reason is that no prosperity is possible without research," she said.
She said this while addressing the inauguration of the four-day program of the International Mother Language Institute in Segunbagicha on the occasion of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day-2023.
She said the government will take steps to provide fellowships for language research at the International Mother Language Institute. "I think it is the responsibility of this organization to save all the languages of the world, research them and know the history of the language. I think this can be done," the Prime Minister said.
Sheikh Hasina said that if necessary, she will provide funding and fellowships to language researchers.
She said that due to research, Bangladesh has achieved food prosperity today.
"Now there is a need for extensive research in various sectors, including science and health," she said.
In this regard, the Prime Minister said that the government provides fellowships and scholarships to 2.40 crore students in Bangladesh and provides free textbooks to the school students.
Sheikh Hasina said her government had raised the literacy rate from only 45 percent to 65.5 percent during 1996-2001 and received a prize from UNESCO for this achievement. Her government then set up a fund with a prize money to provide scholarship for higher education.
"When we came to power in the 2009, we increased the literacy rate to 75.2 percent. So we (in the field of education) are moving forward," she added.
Sheikh Hasina recalled the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the language movement of 1952.
On the occasion, Sheikh Hasina, the main sponsor of the institute, handed over the four international mother tongue national medals and international mother tongue international medal winners.
Habibur Rahman and Ranjit Singh were given international medals in recognition of the national medal and Mahendra Kumar Mitra and the mother tongue of the mother tongue of Vancouver's World Society in the preservation, revival and development of the mother tongue.
Md. Aminul Islam, president of the World Society's mother tongue, received the medal on behalf of the Society.
Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury (Nowfel) and UNESCO Representative and Department Chief Susan Marie Viji spoke on the occasion.
Former Vice -Chancellor of Rabindravarti University of India Dr Pavitra Sarkar presented the keynote on 'The need for multilingual education in the multilingual world'.
Secondary and Higher Education Secretary Suleiman Khan gave the welcome address and thanked Prof. Dr. Hakim Arif, Director General of the International Mother Language Institute.
At the beginning of the program, a minute of silence was observed in respect of the sacrifice of the heroic martyrs of the language movement.
A video documentary titled 'Bangabandhu and Language Movement' was displayed on the occasion.
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, children from different countries including Bangladesh, India, Australia, Algeria, Japan, China, Russia, France greeted the Prime Minister in their mother tongue.
