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Celebrating International Mother Language Day on Thursday, 21st February 2019.
Thursday, 21st February 2019
Celebrating International Mother Language Day on Thursday, 21st February 2019.
Hosted by Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom
London Central Mosque attendees:
Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, Director General of London Central Mosque Trust and Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC)
Madina Anjum Rashid, Honorary Advisor, ICC
Fayaz Uddin, Head of Security, ICC
21st February was declared as the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in November 1999 to uphold the significance of Mother Language in the life of an individual and to promote unity in diversity- respect all languages alike.
21st February corresponds to the day in 1952 when students from Bangladesh lead a demonstration for the recognition of their linguistic rights of Bangla as one of the two national languages of East Pakistan. 21st February has become an iconic event for Bengalis all over the world. It is more commonly referred to as Ekushey February or Ekushey, the day when all Bengalis dress in black and white, murmuring songs of lament.
Dr Ahmad gave a talk on the history of the Arabic language and the close relationship between the Bangla and Arabic language and community. Dr Ahmad emphasised the importance of our mother language and that it is the language the dearest to our heart. We should all have the right to speak our mother tongue and we should pass it on to our next generation no-matter where we live.