Research is vital to preserve, revitalise and develop mother languages: PM | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
June 10, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025
Research is vital to preserve, revitalise and develop mother languages: PM

Bangladesh

UNB
21 February, 2023, 06:30 pm
Last modified: 22 February, 2023, 01:04 pm

Related News

  • Bangladesh High Commission in Mauritius pays tribute on 21 February
  • Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi commemorates International Mother Language Day
  • Nation pays homage to language martyrs
  • What we expect from the International Mother Language Institute 
  • More than words: How 'linguistic reach' strengthens soft power

Research is vital to preserve, revitalise and develop mother languages: PM

UNB
21 February, 2023, 06:30 pm
Last modified: 22 February, 2023, 01:04 pm
Photo: PMO
Photo: PMO

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for research to preserve, revitalise and develop the mother languages of the worldas many languages are being lost.

"I always put emphasis on research. The reason is that enrichment of anything is not possible without research," she said.

The PM said this while inaugurating a four-day programme of the International Mother Language Institute at Segunbagicha to mark the Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day-2023.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

She said the government will take steps to provide fellowship for language research in the International Mother Language Institute.

"I think this institute has a responsibility to preserve all the languages of the world, conduct research on these and know the history of languages. I think it can be done," she said.

Hasina said she, if needed, will arrange funds to provide fellowship for language researchers.

She said today Bangladesh has attained food autarky thanks to research. "Now research is extensively needed in different sectors including science and health," she added.

In this context, the PM said the government provides fellowship and stipends to 24 million students in Bangladesh and free textbooks to the school students.

She said her government raised the literacy rate to 65.5 percent from only 45 percent during the 1996-2001 tenure and got an award from UNESCO for this achievement at that time. Then her government formed a fund with the award money to provide stipend for higher education.

"Coming in power in 2009, now we've raised the literacy rate to 75.2 percent. So, we are advancing (in terms of education)," she said.

"Many languages in different countries are being lost...We want the engendered languages of the world to be preserved here and research to be conducted on these. We're giving the utmost importance to research. I want International Mother Language Institute to make a huge contribution to preserve the languages," she said.

The PM said the country's children should learn one or two foreign languages alongside learning own language.

Noting that English has turned as the dominant medium of international communication now, she said, "Alongside it, I think it is very essential to learn own language. Our children can learn one or two other languages alongside the own language."

Hasina said she laid the foundation stone of the International Mother Language Institute during the visit of the then UN general secretary Kofi Annan in 2001, but the subsequent BNP-Jamaat government stopped its works.

She thanked the 2001-2006 BNP government for stopping its works saying that otherwise her government didn't get scope to develop this institute as per her design.

"From the one perspective, they did a good job. I would like to thank them as I could develop this institute as per my choice after coming in power for the second term. So, I thank them for stopping it," she said.

Hasina recalled the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Language Movement in 1952.

In the event, Hasina, also chief patron of the institute, handed over the international mother language national medals and the international mother language international medals to four recipients.

Habibur Rahman and Ranjit Sinha were awarded with the national medals, while Mahendra Kumar Mitra and Mother Language Lovers of World Society, Vancouver, Canada were conferred with the international medals in recognition of their extraordinary contribution for the preservation, revitalisation and development of mother languages.

President of the Mother Language Lovers of World Society Md Aminul Islam received the medal on behalf of the Society.

Education Minister Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhoury (Nowfel) and Head of the Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Susan Maree Vize spoke on the occasion.

Professor Dr Pabitra Sarkar, Former Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, India, presented the keynote paper focusing on 'the necessity of multilingual education in the multilingual world.'

Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division Suleman Khan gave the welcome address and Director General of the International Mother Language Institute Professor Dr Hakim Arif delivered the vote of thanks.

At the outset of the programme, a one-minute silence was observed to show respect to the language movement heroes for their sacrifice.

In the event, a video documentary titled "Bangabandhu and Language Movement" was screened.

Children from different countries including Bangladesh, India, Australia, Algeria, Japan, China, Russia and France greeted the Prime Minister in their own mother languages on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day.

Top News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina / International Mother Language Day / Bangla Language

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaks to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on 10 June 2025. Photo: Focus Bangla
    Fakhrul urges interim govt to rethink about April election timing
  • A passerby walks near a building on fire at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
    Russia launches one of war's largest air attacks on Kyiv
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Photos: Collected
    Yunus-Tarique meeting in London on Friday can be a major turning point: Fakhrul

MOST VIEWED

  • On left, Abdullah Hil Rakib, former senior vice president (SVP) of BGMEA and additional managing director of Team Group; on right, Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Photos: Collected
    Ex-BGMEA SVP Abdullah Hil Rakib, Biman 787 pilot Saifuzzaman drown in boating accident in Canada
  • A photo showing the former president on his return to Dhaka today (9 June). 
Source: Collected
    Former president Abdul Hamid returns to Bangladesh from Thailand
  • File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar
    Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus leaves for a four-day visit to the United Kingdom from the Dhaka airport on 9 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus leaves for UK; discussion expected on renewable energy investment, laundered money
  • Inside the aid ship stormed by Israeli forces on 9 June 2025. Photo: BBC
    Israeli forces stormed aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg bound for Gaza: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
  • Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases
    Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases

Related News

  • Bangladesh High Commission in Mauritius pays tribute on 21 February
  • Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi commemorates International Mother Language Day
  • Nation pays homage to language martyrs
  • What we expect from the International Mother Language Institute 
  • More than words: How 'linguistic reach' strengthens soft power

Features

File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

1d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

3d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

5d | Panorama
(From left) Sadia Haque, Sylvana Quader Sinha and Tasfia Tasbin. Sketch: TBS

Meet the women driving Bangladesh’s startup revolution

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

What's the problem with elections in April? What BNP says

What's the problem with elections in April? What BNP says

1h | TBS Today
Tarique to meet CA Yunus in London on Friday, confirms Fakhrul

Tarique to meet CA Yunus in London on Friday, confirms Fakhrul

1h | TBS Today
Israel has taken the aid ship 'Madeleine' to its port

Israel has taken the aid ship 'Madeleine' to its port

3h | TBS World
Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman's meeting will not solve all problems: Mirza Fakhrul

Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman's meeting will not solve all problems: Mirza Fakhrul

2h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net