Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre (SBIC) and Sunderland Bangla School hosted a celebration of International Mother Language Day in February and a poignant commemoration of the events that led to Bengali becoming one of the official languages of Bangladesh and the inception of the International Mother Language Day by the United Nations. The event also provided an opportunity to showcase the speaking skills of children learning Bangla/Bengali at their new community school, which has been running for three months.
The children and representatives of the Bangladeshi community honoured the people who died in protests on 21st February 1952 who sought to ensure that Bengali was instated as a recognised national mother tongue in Bangladesh. Bengali was granted status as one of the official languages of Bangladesh in 1956.
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. 21st February is now the date that International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year.
Today there is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in strengthening co-operation and attaining quality education for all, in building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage, and in mobilizing political will for applying the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development.
Declan Baharini, Co-ordinator of Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages, was invited as a special guest by Abu Shama, the SBIC Manager and spoke at the event in Sunderland. She joined a panel of speakers from the Bangladeshi community who talked about the importance of maintaining and preserving the Bengali language, culture and heritage.
It was an honour to be invited and to participate in the ceremony and celebrations of the Bengali language and to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the language. Sunderland Bangla School children’s performances were inspiring and it was wonderful to see their confidence and enthusiasm and to experience the warm welcome at Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre. Language is such a vital part of who we are as humans and everyone should have the opportunity to speak their own language.
Declan Baharini, Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages Co-ordinator
Syed Samad Ali, a teacher who received an MBE in the New Years Honours List, was also recognised by the community at the event for his services. Mr Ali has been supporting the involvement of schools and Bengali speaking communities in this year’s Festival of Languages. He also translated the Festival Song, Just One World, into Bangla/Bengali, so that children across the region would be able to join in this activity and sing in their mother tongue, or sing in a language that their friends speak.