Bangladesh observes Ekusehy February for the first time in UNESCAP

The Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok in association with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau has observed the Ekushey February and the International Mother Language Day.

The embassy in a statement on Tuesday said this was the first time the day was observed at a regional level at the UNESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific).

Regional Director of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Bureau, ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary, Ambassadors or Permanent Representatives of more than 20 countries attended the programme.

Representatives participated in the event were from India, Russia, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Portugal, Panama, Hungary, Iran, Egypt, Oman, Australia, Bhutan and various international organisations including UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCAP, UNEP, IOM, UNHCR, ICRC, World Bank, UNCDF and Senior officials of Thai Foreign Ministry and Vice President of Thailand’s eminent Chulalongkorn University.

A large number of Bangladesh expatriate community living in Thailand also attended the event. UNICEF Chief of Education Hugh Delaney made a presentation on mother language and SDG4, which is related to quality education.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Saida Muna Tasneem highlighted Bangladesh’s effort to make the Feb 21 as International Mother Language Day.

The UNESCO declared the day in 1999 recognising the 1952 movement when police shot dead several demonstrators mostly students protesting against the then Pakistan government’s decision to impose Urdu as the sole state language of the people of erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

The Ambassador also read out messages of the President and Prime Minister on occasion.

The UNESCO Regional Director, Gwang Jo Kim, read out the message of the UNESCO Director General who praised Bangladesh for its leadership role in the proclamation of International Mother Language.

A colourful multilingual cultural programme in Bangla, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, and English was also organised at the event.