The government is working to ensure the use of Bengali language in information technology, and textbooks in the mother tongues of various ethnic groups, including Braille books, are being distributed free of charge, said Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government.
In a message on the occasion of the Great Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day, the Chief Advisor said that the interim government formed through the July Uprising is continuously working to protect the dignity of the country and its languages, which is essential for the country's progress and prosperity.
He said, "On the occasion of the great Martyr's Day and International Mother Language Day, I pay tribute to all the language-speaking people of the world, including Bengali. UNESCO has been celebrating this day with due dignity along with Bangladesh since 1999. The theme of this year's day - 'Make Languages Count for Sustainable Development' is appropriate."
Dr. Yunus said, the first victory of the liberation struggle of the Bengali nation, which was plagued by centuries of exploitation and rule, was on February 21, 1952. The importance of the language movement in the history of the liberation struggle of the Bengali nation is immense. It was through this movement that the foundation for the formation of a non-communal, democratic, language-based state system was laid.
He said, "On this day, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar, Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Shafiur Rahman and many others laid down their lives to protect the dignity of our mother tongue, Bangla."
He further said that in 1956, Bengali was given the status of the national language and February 21 was declared as Martyrs' Day and a public holiday was declared on this day. On November 17, 1999, UNESCO recognized February 21 as 'International Mother Language Day'.
The Chief Advisor extended his greetings and best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day 2025. He wished success to all the programs undertaken on this occasion.
