Shilpakala Academy celebrates International Mother Language Day

The artists and guests recited poems and performed dances and songs in their respective languages

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organized a colourful cultural program on Wednesday to mark Martyr’s Day and International Mother Language Day with 100 foreign artists and guests in front of central Shaheed Miner. 

The artists and guests recited poems and performed dances and songs in their respective languages. 

The event titled “Bangladesh Will Protect All the Mother Languages of the World” started by honouring the language martyrs in front of Shaheed Minar, with all the artists and guests singing the National Anthem of Bangladesh and the song "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February."

Before that, they placed floral wreaths in front of the Shaheed Minar.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky talked about the history of the Language Movement and International Mother Language Day.

He said: "Today is a sorrowful day for all of us, but it also holds added value as it is International Mother Language Day. I would like to thank all the foreign guests who have come to our event. Today, we will not only sing in the Bengali language; we will celebrate every language around the world. We will keep saying this: we are going to love our language and all the mother languages around the world as well."

Shunsuke Mizutani and Mayu Watanabe sang songs together in Bengali and Japanese. 

The song “Ami Banglay Gaan Gai” that they sang touched every heart in the audience.

Dr Poonam Gupta from India recited a poem in her mother tongue, which was based on Mother Language Day. Elisa Werner from Germany recited a poem in her mother tongue.

Mita Khatka, Ritu Chalice, and Shadiksha Sindali Magar from the Nepal Embassy performed a dance in their mother tongue.

Bismarck Lemuel Lawson from Ghana and Bae Hyun Sook from Korea recited poems in their own languages. Alga Roy recited poems in both Russian and Bengali to show respect to the martyrs. Besides, artists and guests from Somalia, China, and Indonesia were there to perform at the event.

The Dhaka Sangskritik Dol of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy performed a Bengali song and closed the event afterwards.

Mother language gives us the confidence to express ourselves properly. Through this meaningful event of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, artists from various mother languages showed their love and respect for their mother tongue and paid respect to the language martyrs of Bangladesh.