Parents for Bangla Urges NYC Mayor to Add Bangla Language Classes in New York Schools

USANewsOnline.Com Desk, New York : Parents for Bangla, a community-based advocacy group representing Bangladeshi-American families in Queens, is calling on the Mayor of New York City to authorize the addition of Bangla as a second-language offering to the New York Public schools, specially at P.S. Q024, I.S. 237Q, and 25Q281 in Flushing.
The Parents for Bangla group teamed up with the Bangladesh Society leadership at Society and wrote letters to the NYC Mayor and City Leaders on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day 2026. The group noted that though Bangla is the fifth largest language group in New York City and one of the most common languages among English Language Learners in the
NYCDOE system, Bangla-speaking children in Flushing are currently offered Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, or other languages—but not their very own Bangla. Community leaders say
this mismatch is hindering inclusivity, cultural connection, weakening school-family engagement, and slowing the social integration of a vulnerable immigrant population.
“Bangla-speaking families have been strong supporters of this administration and its regrettable that NYC is raising a generation that cannot read or write Bangla, forefathers of whom sacrificed
their lives for the language” said Poet Ashique Reja, Convenor of Parents for Bangla. “Adding Bangla is not only a matter of cultural respect—it is a matter of educational equity, effective
governance, and recognition of the 5th largest language group in the NYCDOE system.”
The group notes that February, which commemorates the historic Language Movement and International Mother Language Day on February 21, presents a timely opportunity for the City
to demonstrate its commitment to multilingualism and immigrant inclusion.
Parents for Bangla is urging the Mayor and the NYCDOE Chancellor to approve and implement Bangla language lessons in classes with six thousand Bangla speaking NYC students, specially in
Flushing schools without delay.
Parents for Bangla Contact Email: [email protected]; and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1123502659861995
Press Release.