BSS-45 Youths should feel ashamed speaking incorrect Bangla: Prof Biswajit

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BSS-45

BISWAJIT-BANGLA LANGUAGE

Youths should feel ashamed speaking incorrect Bangla: Prof Biswajit

DHAKA, Feb 20, 2019 (BSS) – Rabindra University Vice-Chancellor Professor Biswajit Ghosh has said youths should feel ashamed of speaking Bangla in an incorrect way.

“Our young generations while speaking English feel shy in case of saying incorrect English. But it is noteworthy that they don’t feel ashamed of when they speak incorrect Bangla,” Dr Ghosh, who achieved Ekushey Padak this year for his research, told BSS on the eve of the International Mother Language Day.

He added: “I think, they (young people) should be ashamed of when they speak incorrect Bangla. Because, it is our mother tongue. Speaking English incorrectly is not a problem for me as it is not my mother tongue. So, mentality of being ashamed of saying incorrect English and not for saying incorrect Bangla should be changed”.

Urging the young generation for practicing correct Bangla, Professor Ghosh said, “We must learn other languages. But I could not be a perfect human being until I love my mother language and pronounce it correctly. Young people should remember it”.

In 1971, the Bangla Academy, which is the outcome of the Language Movement, organised a weeklong programme to observe the Shaheed Day. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed the inaugural function of the weeklong programme as the chief guest.

The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said in the inaugural speech, “While paying homage to the Shaheeds (martyrs) of the language movement, I would like to declare that the Bangla will be introduced at all levels from the day my party is inducted into power. We shall not wait for the evolution of a glossary. Bengali will be introduced in whatever shape it is today.”(Source: Bangladesh My Bangladesh; Selected Speeches and Statements of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; Edited with note by Ramendu Majumdar).

Ensuring use of Bangla language at all levels, the Constitution of Bangladesh (1972) says “The language of the Republic is Bangla.” It means that the Bangla language came into effect as the state language from the date of formulation of the Constitution.

The use of Bangla in administration has increased in recent times. Alongside using the English website, the ministries are now also using Bangla websites. In all possible cases, the official activities are being operated in Bangla. In our daily life, however, we see unnecessary use of English words in Bangla language, which is not only an insult to our mother language, but also hurting the spirit of Ekushey February.

Knowing Bangla Language should be made mandatory in case of getting scholarships and jobs, Professor Ghosh said, adding that it should be ensured that better jobs will be offered to those who will be found excellent in both written and spoken Bangla.

The youths will prefer using the Bangla in their day to day life, when they would find ways of establishing themselves and get better jobs by practicing Bangla, he said.

The Director General of Bangla Academy Habibullah Shirajee emphasized on the individuals’ initiatives for using the Bangla language at all levels.

“It is not possible to ensure use of Bangla at all levels without personal initiatives and love for the mother tongue. Patriotism is a pre-requisite to introducing the Bangla Language at all levels”, he said, adding the Bangla language will be flourished in the true sense of the term when you feel proud of speaking Bangla.

The government should shut down the institutions which do not teach Bangla properly by formulating a law, Shirajee said.

BSS/SPL/MJ/SAH/KU/1958 HRS