Int’l Mother Language Day observed in Maxico by Bangladesh Embassy

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Bangladesh Embassy in Mexico on Monday observed the `Language Martyrs’ Day’ of Bangladesh and `International Mother Language Day’in collaboration with Senate of the Republic through the Committee on Indigenous Affairs and the University of Ibero-Americana.

The program of the day was divided into two segments.

During the first segment, the proceeding of the day commenced with the hoisting of the national flag at half-mast at the tune of national anthem by Ambassador Abida Islam at the Embassy premise in the morning.

It was followed by observance of one minute of silence to pay respect to the memories of the language martyrs and reading out of messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, given on this occasion.

In the discussion session, the Embassy officials spontaneously participated and highlighted the significance of the Day.

Ambassador Abida Islam in her speech paid her deep respect to all the language martyrs who laid down their lives on 21st February 1952 in Dhaka to protect the dignity of the mother language `Bangla’.

She also recalled with profound reverence- the greatest Bengali of all times, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – who’s role was extremely instrumental in the then language movement of February 1952.

The first segment of the program ended with the screening of the song ‘Ekush Amar’ and a cultural performance participated by the officials of the Embassy.

In the second segment, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Mexico City, for the first time ever, collaborated with the Senate of the Republic, through the Committee on Indigenous Affairs and jointly held a discussion program virtually with the assistance from the University of Ibero-Americana in Mexico City highlighting the significance of the day. It was moderated by Dra. Aribel Contreras, Coordinator of Bachelors’ in International Affairs Administration.

The event was screened live on the Facebook Page and the YouTube Channel of the Senate of the Republic and received instant attention from the local dignitaries.

In her welcoming remarks, recalling the origin of 21st February, H.E. Xochitl Galvez, the Senator, and the Chair of the Committee on Indigenous Affairs, paid rich tribute to the language martyrs of Bangladesh and emphasized the importance of preserving the ethnic languages.

She highlighted that out of 25 million indigenous Mexicans only 6.5% could spoke in their native languages and among 68 indigenous languages, at least six are at a risk of extinction. Hence, the theme of this year’ International Language Day was most appropriate to protect these languages which are on the verge of extinction. Highlighting the commencement of the International Decade

After the deliberation of Senator Xochitl Galvez, one-minute silence was observed in honour of the language martyrs and then the message of the Director-General of UNESCO was read out by the Counsellor of the Embassy Shahanaj Ranu. Later, a video was screened on the background of the 21st February and its glorious recognition by UNESCO in 1999.

Ambassador Abida Islam in her remarks paid deep homage to the language martyrs of Bangladesh. She then elaborated on the initiatives of her Government in protecting and preserving the mother languages of the small ethnic minority groups in Bangladesh.

She also stated that Bangladesh Government is working relentlessly to provide these communities the necessary access to education in their mother tongue in order to attain sustainable future for them.

The Director-General of Asia Pacific Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico, Ms. Claudia Franco Hijuelos in her remarks thanked the Embassy of Bangladesh in Mexico City for taking this initiatives and opined that, through this event, both the countries are promoting a new phase in their bilateral relationships.

Referring to her Government’s eagerness to protect and conserve the 68 indigenous languages of Mexico along with the Spanish language, she highlighted the efforts of the ‘Institute of Mexicans Abroad’ under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to promote Spanish among its diaspora in the United States of America.

She also viewed that the theme of this year’s International Mother Language Day would make people more conscious of their cultural identity.