Speakers at Washington Webinar calls for preserving linguistic diversity for human dignity

Shamim Ahmad, Washington D.C.: Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, D.C. Sunday organized a Webinar marking the observance of the International Mother Language Day with the theme “Fostering Multilingualism in Education and Society.”

Bangladesh Ambassador to the U.S.A. M Shahidul Islam made welcome remarks, saying 21st February is an important milestone in Bangladesh’s national history.

He said this year the day has assumed more significance, as Bangladesh celebrates the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50^th Anniversary of her glorious independence.

The Ambassador said UNESCO’s proclamation recognizing February 21 as International Mother Language Day  has added a new dimension of cultural-linguistic diversity as well as multilingualism to this historic day in a spirit of ‘unity in diversity’.  

UNESCO Director-General Ms. Audrey Azoulay said UNESCO has launched an initiative to translate more than 6,000 books in over 100 languages to enrich its world digital library which already offers free access to thousands of books, manuscripts, pictures and documents from across the world.

She said UNESCO will celebrate a decade of indigenous languages from 2022 through 2032. She appreciated the commitments to this effect made by Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, and Jordan.

She said preservation and protection of linguistic diversity is essential for human dignity. Quoting English philosopher Roger Beacon, she said knowledge of languages is the doorstep to wisdom.

At the Webinar, Philip Rodenbough, Foreign Service officer at the US State Department recited a poem in Bangla titled ‘Mother Tongue” written by Abul Hasan.

Director-General of International Mother Language Institute, Bangladesh Prof. Dr. Jinnat Imtiaz Ali delivered a keynote address. He said the Institute is working to preserve and develop 41 languages and dialects found in Bangladesh. Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, Senior Official for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment and Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the State Department, Shafiul Alam, former Cabinet

Secretary and Alternate Executive Director, World Bank Group, and former U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Harry K Thomas participated in the panel and open discussion.

The speakers in their remarks stressed the need for fostering multilingualism and multiculturalism for better understanding and friendship among the world population, peace and sustainable development.

Ambassador Bernicat said Bangla is not only a powerful language but also got world recognition as Poet Rabindranath Tagore achieved Nobel Prize for writing his collection of poems in Bengali.  

Ambassador Harry K Thomas in his familiar style spoke some words “Kemon Acchen?”, “Ami Bangla Ke Bhalobashi.” Recalling his participation in a program on 21^st February during his tenure in Dhaka, he said he still feels the heartbeat of Bengali people for their love for their mother tongue. “My heart is always with you,” he said.

The Ambassador praised Bangla language, culture, and heritage as well as recent accomplishments including the launch of Bangabandhu communication satellite.

The hour-long Webinar was moderated by Minister and Deputy Chief of the Mission at Bangladesh Embassy Ms. Ferdousi Shahriar.