New York, 22 February 2025:
The Silver Jubilee of the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) was celebrated at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York today with due fervor in presence of a significant number of ambassadors and diplomats from different countries and high officials from the UN Secretariat. Under Secretary General for UN Global Communications attended the program as the chief guest.
In his welcome remarks, Bangladesh Permanent Representative Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury paid deep tribute to the language martyrs’ for establishing the Bangla as a state language in 1952. He also thanked the UNESCO for their initiative to connect multilingualism with sustainable social development.
Under Secretary General for UN Global Communications Ms. Melissa Fleming and all other speakers acknowledged with deep appreciation, the leadership role of Bangladesh in achieving the proclamation of a day dedicated to mother language. They also recognized the importance of mother tongue-based multilingual education as the foundation for continued learning and development. The program was also attended by Professor Francis M. Hult, Chair of NGO Committee on Language and Languages, Ms. Lily Gray, representative from UNESCO and Ms. Anne Lafebar, representative of UN Coordinator for Multilingualism.
Earlier in the morning the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh observed the Martyrs Day and the International Mother Language Day with due solemnity in the Mission’s premises. During the event, messages from the Hon’ble Chief Adviser and the Hon’ble Adviser for Foreign Affairs were read-out by the Mission officials.
Amar Ekushe Observed in Canada
Ottawa (Canada), 22 February 2025:
Bangladesh High Commission in Canada observed ‘Amar Ekushe’ in Ottawa in a befitting manner Members of Bangladesh community in Ottawa, other embassies, and the members of diplomatic corps participated in the day long event.
The commemoration of the ‘Martyrs Day’ and International Mother Language Day 2025 in Ottawa strived to disseminate linguistic and cultural diversity as well as multilingualism to promote culture of peace. In her welcome address at the event, Bangladesh High Commissioner for Canada paid rich tributes to the sacrifices of the language martyrs of 1952 as well as the 2024 July Uprising and emphasized the global significance of International Mother Language Day. She stressed the role of multilingualism in fostering peace and inclusivity. She also echoed the
theme of UNESCO’s 25th anniversary of the Members of Bangladesh community in Canda, International Mother Language Day in accelerating progress on linguistic diversity to build a more inclusive and sustainable world by 2030. Colourful and diverse cultural performances were presented by Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand to convey the spirit of culture of peace embodied in the International Mother Language Day.
The programme of the day began in the morning with the half-masting of Bangladesh’s national flag by High Commissioner Nahida Sobhan at Bangladesh House in Ottawa. This was followed by placing a floral wreath by the High Commissioner along with the members of the community at the High Commission to pay homage to the language martyrs of 1952. One minute silence was observed in remembrance of the martyrs of Language Movement and the War of Independence and the 2024 July Uprising. Messages issued on the occasion by Hon’ble Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Hon’ble Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md. Touhid Hossain were read out. Two documentaries – The Economist’s ‘Country of the Year 2024’ and ‘July Anirban’ were screened. A discussion session on the significance of the day was also arranged with High Commissioner Nahida Sobhan at the Chair. Prominent community members and youth representatives spoke at the discussion session.
