Agartala: The International Mother Language Day was observed in Tripura on Friday with colourful processions, functions, discussions, seminars and other events.
Thousands of students and people from all walks of life organised a colourful march in different parts of Tripura. They also took part in the main function, organised by the Education Department at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan here.
Intellectuals and academicians from Bangladesh took part in the day’s main event at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan, where tribal musician, Lalrinsem Halam, was accorded felicitation. Sponsored by the government and non-government organisations, a variety of cultural programmes were organised across the state.
Addressing a function here, Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb, said, “In the 1952 Language Movement, many Bangladeshis laid down their lives for supporting Bengali as a state language during the Pakistani rule. International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on this day to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and this year’s theme was ‘Languages without borders’.”
Tripura’s Revenue Minister and veteran tribal leader, Narendra Chandra Debbarma, said the people of eastern India and Bangladesh played leading roles for introduction of the International Mother Language Day in 1999 by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala organised various programmes to mark the day. Day-long celebrations took place at the mission complex.
Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner, Kiriti Chakma, said besides cultural programmes, discussions were held to commemorate the historic Bangladesh Liberation War. (IANS)
