President M Abdul Hamid emphasized the need for proper practice and preservation of the Bangla language and culture saying that the spirit of Amar Ekushey is the incessant source of inspiration for protecting own languages and culture of the people of different languages across the world.

"We have to be more attentive to properly practice and preserve Bengali language and culture," he said in a message on the eve of 'Shaheed Day' and 'International Mother Language Day 2023. 

With the blessings of information technology, Bangladeshi people are also now the inhabitants of a single global village, the President said, "Therefore, to maintain the pace of advancement with the developed world, our present generation has to attain necessary skills in different languages which are recognized as international communication media". 

He believed that observing International Mother Language Day will play a positive role in the development and preservation of "our own language as well as in building a sustainable future through multilingual education - this is our expectation".

Abdul Hamid recalled Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafiur and many anonymous language martyrs, who laid down their lives to establish the right of their mother tongue Bangla, with deep homage. 

On the occasion of International Mother Language Day 2023, he said, "I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to the people of various languages of the world, including Bangla and other ethnic groups".

"The great Language Movement is an unforgettable event in our national history. Today, I remember with profound respect, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Sarbodolio Rashtrobhasa Sangram Parishad (All Party State Language Action Committee), formed in 1948 and consequently was imprisoned," the President said.

He recalled all the language activists, including the then Member of Gonoparishad (Constituent Assembly) Dhirendranath Dutta, whose farsightedness, boundless sacrifice, courage, organisational skills and instantaneous decision resulted in the final outcome of the language movement on February 21, 1952, and consequently, Bangalees achieved their right of mother tongue. 

In 1947, on the basis of the Two Nation Theory, Abdul Hamid said, that British-ruled India was split into two countries - India and Pakistan while with thousand kilometres apart, East and West Pakistan had completely different languages and cultures. 

Therefore, when Urdu was declared as the only state language of Pakistan, the Bangalee Nation took to the streets in protest to protect the status of their mother tongue 'Bangla', he added.

"Basically the Language Movement was the movement to establish the right of our mother tongue as well as to protect our ethnicity, self-entity and cultural distinction. The imperishable spirit of Amar Ekushey (Immortal Shaheed Day) gave us endless inspiration and immense courage in achieving our rights to self-determination, struggle for freedom and the War of Liberation," the President said. 

With the bloodshed passages of Language Movement of February, he said, "We achieved the recognition of Bangla as our mother tongue and consequently attained our long-cherished Independence in 1971 under the charismatic leadership of the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman".

February 21 has now been recognized by the United Nations as the 'International Mother Language Day' with the spontaneous willingness and sincere endeavour of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with the primary efforts of some Bangladeshi expatriates in 1999, Abdul Hamid said. 

"As the Bangalee nation, it is one of our great achievements for us. It is a unique celebration in protecting mother tongue as well as own culture and heritage," he added.

Embracing the spirit of Amar Ekushey, the President said, "Let mutual respect be awakened among the people of different languages and cultures of the world and let a colourful world without discrimination be developed - it is my expectation on Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day".