Writers, academics and poets on Monday said that although people sacrificed their lives for Bengali language in the 1952 language movement, still they failed to establish it at every level of the state system.
They said Bangladesh took Bengali as the state language, but its education, administration and communication were based on English.
Bengali language is used by mass people and writers-poets created impactful literature during mass protests which are significant, they said.
They made the remarks at a discussion titled ’71 to 24: Ganaandalane Kabitar Bhumika’ as a part of two-day National poetry festival at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Eminent writer professor Salimullah Khan, Bangla Academy director general Mohammad Azam, National Book Centre director poet Shakhawat Tipu spoke at the event which was chaired by professor Faizul Latif Chowdhury while Jatiya Kabita Parishad president Mohon Raihan delivered a welcome speech.
Salimullah Khan said that people from different parts of the world have fought and given their lives for languages because education is always best in the mother language.
He also stressed on translation of diverse subjects and writers’ books across the globe for higher education.
Shakhawat Tipu said that artists and writers create the language of society and continue to fight for democracy.
Mohammad Azam said that the Bengali language developed during the colonial period, which became rich through struggle and people oriented.
He also said that poets are influenced by big political events and their writings also influence mass movements, adding that the liberation movement changed the structure of Bengali poetry as well as Bengali literature.
