Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu commemorated International Mother Language Day on Sunday, honoring the sacrifices of the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement and promoting linguistic diversity.
Participants paid tributes to the language heroes who fought for the right to use Bangla and talked about the global importance of mother tongues and multilingualism.
Welcoming the participants, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal, Md Shafiqur Rahman, paid deep homage to the language martyrs for upholding the sanctity of Bangla in 1952. He highlighted the need for preserving and promoting mother language and underlined the necessity of multilingual mother-tongue-based education as a basis of a quality education system.
Messages from the President, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister of Bangladesh were read out during the event. In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin urged Bangla-speaking people to remain vigilant in preserving the quality and dignity of the language, stating that language is the foremost custodian and carrier of a nation’s existence, heritage, and culture.
Similarly, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, called for collective efforts to uphold and protect the dignity of languages worldwide. “Let us preserve the linguistic diversity within our country, safeguard our unique culture and heritage, and ensure the proper use and cultivation of Bangla at all levels,” he said.
The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr Khalilur Rahman, said the historic movement reminds all that respect for cultural diversity, the promotion of linguistic pluralism, and inclusive education are essential pillars for building peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive societies.
In their message, representatives from the embassies of Sri Lanka, Finland, Russia, and Malaysia, and UNICEF in Nepal underscored the universal value of mother languages and multilingual education in fostering global harmony.
On the occasion, Krishna Prasad Neupane of the Language Commission of Nepal made a presentation on the commission and its activities.
The ceremony reflected the spirit of Ekushey, the Bangla term for February 21, as a source of inspiration for protecting linguistic heritage everywhere. UNESCO has declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.
Government officials, diplomats, and members of the Bangladeshi community in Kathmandu, among others, were present on the occasion.
