Oldhamers came together to celebrate International Mother Language Day on Tuesday, February 21.
The day was formerly recognised by the United Nations in 2002, and has been observed in Bangladesh since 1955.
Known as Language Movement Day in Bangladesh, the day was born from the Bengali language movement, which saw years of civil conflict and protests in the effort to establish Bengali as an official language following the division of the Indian subcontinent when Britain ended its colonial rule of the region.
Bengali was made an official language of Pakistan in its 1956 constitution, following the protests.
Bangladesh did not gain independence from Pakistan until 1971.
A memorial to those killed during the Bengali Language Movements, the Central Shaheed Minar, stands outside the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh.
The modern-day International Mother Language Day seeks to expand education into languages that people can understand – with 40 per cent of the global population said to not have access to education in a language they speak or understand, according to the UN.
The day retains its importance to Oldham’s Bengali community, with multiple celebrations organised in the borough, including at Shahjalal Physical Activeness Recreational Club and the Royal Sultan Functional Hall in Chadderton.
Celebrations also took place at Oldham’s Shaheed Minar on Main Road.
Community activist Abdul Malik helped to organise the celebrations on Main Road, which saw the attendance of Bangladesh’s assistant high commissioner as well as councillors, including Cllr Mohon Ali and the mayor, Cllr Elaine Garry, and children from Burnley Brow School who learned about the day.
Cllr Ali said: “There’s a bit of history there, now it’s seen as a day where it’s a proud moment for Bangladeshis to celebrate their culture, tradition and the Bengali language.
“Also today is about paying homage to the brave people who sacrificed their lives so that the Bangladeshi people could speak Bangla [Bengali].
“We’ve replicated the Shaheed Minar in Oldham to recognise the importance of language, culture and diversity across the world, and also recognise that people have died to protect their mother language.
“Burnley Brow School was involved, and the children got involved in designing some arts and crafts with cardboard, replicating the Shaheed Minar, and we awarded the children some trophies aned medals to recognise their arts and crafts.”
More information on the International Mother Language Day can be found on the UN website.
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