Three individuals, institution receive International Mother Language Award

Recipients are given a gold medal, a certificate, and Tk 400,000 or its dollar equivalent

The International Mother Language Award has been presented to three recipients this year, including two individuals and one institution.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus handed over the awards at the International Mother Language Institute on Friday afternoon, in celebration of the Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.

Linguist and language researcher Abul Mansur Muhammad Abu Musa was recognised for his contributions to the preservation, revival, and advancement of mother language.

British poet Joe Winter was honoured for his translations of Rabindranath Tagore and Jibanananda Das and his efforts in promoting and globalising the Bengali language.

The Bangladesh mission in Paris was awarded the International Mother Language Award for its leading role in securing the recognition of Feb 21 as the International Mother Language Day, based on the history of the Bengali language movement.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin accepted the award on behalf of the embassy.

Each recipient was presented with an 18-carat gold medal weighing 35g, a certificate of honour, and Tk 400,000 or its equivalent in dollars.

In addition, winners of the Linguistic Olympiad were awarded certificates during the ceremony.

In recognition of the Bengali people's struggle for the official status of the Bengali language in 1952, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, or UNESCO, declared Feb 21 as the International Mother Language Day on Nov 17, 1999.

The International Mother Language National Award and the International Mother Language International Award are presented by the International Mother Language Institute under the Ministry of Education.

These awards recognise individuals, institutions and organisations for their contributions to the practice, preservation, development and research of the mother language.