Tag: International Mother Language Day

February 21…

Within the last several years this is the first time I am missing the Book Fair in Dhaka… and I am really missing that fair. To be frankly, this is the only fair that allured me. The fascinating well gournished book stalls, the smell of newly publish books, exploring the fair with friends and family… all of those I am terribly missing.

The word "MOTHER" in 30 different languages
The word "MOTHER" in 30 different languages

And today is February 21… The International Mother Language Day. A memorable day in the history of Bangladesh. It is the 57th anniversary of  “Ekushey February” this year. Within this span of time has acquire its own place in online. The number of Bangladeshi bloggers as well as Bangla blogs are increasing day by day. People are now writing their blogs in Bangla. All of these happen because of sacrifices of some great people in 1952. My gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for establishing Bangla Language on 1952 and to the all languages of this world. Each language is like a soul which has its own fascinating beauty.

Everything can change, but not the language that we carry inside us, like a world more exclusive and final than one’s mother’s womb.

– Italo Calvino

Another February… Another Bookfair

Another February has come which announces the glorious history of our beloved mother tongue Bangla. Who can live without speaking in his mother language? Nobody. And we are the only nation who sacrificed to gain the right of speaking in Bangla. Rafiq, Salam, Jabbar, Barkat, Shafiur and many unknown sacrificed their lives on 21 February in 1952 as the law enforcers fired on processions demanding recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages. In 1997, the UN declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.

Shohid Minar

Click here to know more about 21st February and Bangla Language.

Another magnificent event of this month is the book fair which is widely known as “Omor Ekushey Boimela”. Bangla Academy has been organizing this book fair since 1972. For the whole February, this fair will be the common place for the writers and readers. Releasing new books and seminars on Bangla language is the common everyday event in the fair. Besides the seminars where keynote papers are presented and the Bangla Academy awards are distributed, the academy also organizes cultural programs and discussions every afternoon during the fair. The programs include musical and dance performances along with other forms of stage shows. But the main attraction is still the books, the fresh new books.

I always await for this book fair. Though I can buy book from nearby book shops, but I await the whole year for buying books from this fair. You can’t describe the fair scenario, it’s just great. People are crowded in the stalls, seeking favorite books, writers are busy with giving autographs on their newly released books, books are every where, the air is smelled with the scent of newly printed books. Last several years, in book fair, my closest friend Dipu was with me every time. But this time he is away from Bangladesh. Don’t know how I’ll enjoy book fair this time without him!

Hope like every year people will gather in book fair to celebrate the glorious 21st February. Proud to speak in Bangla.