Karachi: 21 February is the International Mother Language, which is being observed by UNESCO and its 193 member countries across the globe every year since 2000. Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi also organized a program on the significance of the day at its Chancery on the evening on 21 February 2023.

The United Nations’ specialized organization, UNESCO observes the day every year in a befitting manner. International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 17 November 1999. The Member States of UNESCO have been observing the 21 February as ‘International Mother Language Day” since 2000. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002.

UNESCO observed International Mother Language Day-2023 with the theme “Multilingual education - a necessity to transform education”. In a message from the Director-General of UNESCO, Madam Audrey Azoulay said that mother-tongue-based education is essential to the full development of individuals and the transmission of linguistic heritage.

Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Karachi H.E. Mr. S. M. Mahbubul Alam delivered his speech on the significance of the day. Vice Chancellors, Deans, Professors, Researchers, and other distinguished academicians from 22 different universities were present at the program.

Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam mentioned that there are about 7,000 languages in the world. But alarmingly a language disappears and dies every two weeks. The language is extinct forever with an entire cultural and intellectual heritage! He further mentioned that at least 43% of the estimated 7,000 languages spoken in the world are endangered

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 27 2023

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