A two-day international seminar titled 'Linguistic Diversity and Language Education in Bangladesh' has started under the initiative of Chittagong University Institute of Modern Language (IML).
The opening ceremony was held on Monday morning at the CU Faculty of Arts and Humanities Gallery. Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shireen Akhtar and CU Pro VC (Academic) Prof. Benu Kumar Dey as special guests were present in the seminar. Dr. David A. Peterson, Professor of Linguistic and Cognitive Science of Dartmouth College in USA, presented the main article in the seminar.
Dr. Farzana Yasmin Chowdhury, president of CU Modern Language Institute, convener of the seminar organizing committee and associate professor of the institute, Manjurul Alam, delivered the welcome speech. Asif Mahmud Hasan and Mehzabin Ima, students of the institute conducted the program.
CU VC said, Bangla is the national language of Bangladesh. This language has a bloody history. Every year February 21th is celebrated as International Mother Language Day. It is of great joy and glory. Different ethnic groups live in Bangladesh. All these ethnic groups have their own language and cultural diversity. They have been practicing their own language and culture independently with Bengali as the official language since ancient times.
Apart from Bengali language, other languages should be given importance as a medium of communication in various fields including higher education while maintaining the diversity of different languages of this country.