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Published : 26 Feb 2026, 05:35 PM
Amid the grandeur of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair’s inauguration, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for a bold step: transforming the annual celebration of Bengali literature into an international literary festival, showcasing Bangladesh’s language and culture to the world.
He spoke at the opening of the fair at the Bangla Academy on Thursday.
“In honour of the martyrs of the Language Movement, we celebrate Ekushey each year with pride to uphold the dignity of our mother tongue.
“Today, Amar Ekushey is observed worldwide as International Mother Language Day. This venue, the Bangla Academy, embodies the aspirations of the 1952 Language Movement martyrs.”
He added, “One of the academy’s key creative initiatives is the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. Considering the passage of time, I request all to reflect on whether it could be organised as an international book fair in the coming years.”
The prime minister emphasised that internationalisation would not only introduce readers to world literature but also foster awareness and appreciation of multiple languages and cultures.
“In today’s global village, exposure beyond one’s mother tongue is essential.
“In a competitive world, establishing a knowledge-, skill-, and talent-based society is crucial for prosperity and respect. We must enrich ourselves in knowledge, science, technology, and skills,” he said.
He added, “We feel it is necessary to start efforts to secure recognition of Bengali as an official language of the United Nations.”
