News-Bangla - নিউজ বাংলা - Bangla Newspaper from Washington DC - Bangla Newspaper

Local youth, Sharmin and sabrine discuss their reflections on International Mother Language Day.

Sharmin Delwar

 Every year, during the month of February, of the 21st Bengalis all around the world within themselves come together and celebrate the Bangla Language Movement; in honor of all the brave soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Bangladesh from Pakistan. On this day, also known as World Mother Language Day many people celebrate the remembrance of the year 1952 through various ways of commemoration. For this exact day about 60 years ago is the very reason we speak and interact with Bangla today. About two months ago on behalf of Ekushay February various Bengali associations around the Greater Washington metro area came together and produced a phenomenal program revolving around the historical traditions, customs and context left from the courageous soldiers and freedom fighters/leaders for us to cherish, share and pass down from generation to another. It started off with the opportunity for the audience, performers and others to set foot on the stage, barefoot towards the remake of the Shohid Minar to set flowers on it as respect and remembrance for the freedom fighters who had fought in for the country. Then there were various types of performances ranging from dancing, singing and poetry all relating to the emotions of Ekushay February. For each were unique and thoughtful to fulfill the full heritage of Bangladesh and the struggle it took to get there. Finally the show ended with a Music skits (Giti Alekkho), a type of short play mixed with artistic performances, which was dedicated to a few bhasha shoiniks known to our Bengali community as a kind of remembrance to them along with many others who had also sacrificed their lives for a mother language they believed they had the right to have. The show truly left an imprint to the meaning of Ekushay February and why it is so significant to the entire language and ethics of Bangladesh. That influential program like these shapes up today’s Bengali culture and community. Which impact the minds of Bengali youths to carry on with themselves and share with others their Bengali legacy that they have learned and experienced. All in one the program was a great success both a commemoration and a merriment,

 Sabrine Ahmed-Iqbal

 On Saturday February 18, several organizations of the Greater Washington D.C. area, such as the Dhaka University Alumni Association, held their annual Ekusher February event. The event is done to commemorate the 1952 language movement in Bangladesh. The language movement took place in Bangladesh to keep Bengali the national language rather than Urdu as the Pakistani Government tried to impose. In the fight for our mother tongue, many lost their lives, but not in vain, for we were victorious and the Bengali language lives on as strong as ever. The event on Saturday was a great success! The night began with a wonderful flower procession to the miniature Shoheed Minar, which is a monument in Bangladesh that commemorates the language movement and the lives lost. After, many lively and passionate dances, songs, and recitations were performed. The night ended with a heart touching geeti alkhlya ---- a skit with song and dance ---- about the 1952 language movement dedicated to the memory of two bhasha shoiniks, Ambassador Zamiruddin Ahmed (my grandfather) and Prime Minister Ataur Rahman Khan. All the beautiful performances truly portrayed the spirit of Bengali and shared the story behind Ekusher February. These types of cultural events are crucial to preserving our Bengali heritage. They teach about our history and traditions so that the Bengali youth, such as myself, can understand where we come from. Without such events our traditions would not be passed along and our wonderful language, along with its associated culture, could be forgotten. Finally, even though we live in America, we still need to know our ancestry and our past; otherwise we lose a huge part of our identities. Congratulations to all the performers and managers of the wonderful function on Saturday. I am truly looking forward to the next Ekusher February event!