Alok Acharja

After seeing the light of the world, the child is attracted to the language by hearing different languages spoken by the mother and the surrounding people. That is his mother tongue. It is through that language practice that the child grows up. Many languages are extinct from the world today. Many languages are on the way to extinction. Pakistanis also wanted to take away our Bengali language. We protected my language rights in exchange for my life. But even if we protect our language, it is a big neglect for us.

I am attracted to foreign languages by leaving that language quite organized. Now this question may also come to mind, should we give more importance to Bengali or English? Those who know Bengali well, and can pronounce and write well are also helpless to the tail of the so-called English! In this way, due to neglect day after day, language distortion is happening due to lack of language practice. We have to see the consequences of our mother's language in front of our eyes. Language is very important for any country, for any nation. Freedom of language is a must. We are lucky to have that freedom. The importance of English language is comparatively so high. It seems that among the subjects of first language and second language, today English language is becoming the first language and Bengali is becoming the second language.

English subject in educational institutions is more important, the English teacher is more important in school and college, speaking in English is very more important, the person who knows English is more important. So where is the position of Bangla? 71 (seventy-one) years have passed since the language movement. Even after more than seven decades, the expectations of the language movement have not yet been fulfilled. Even though ages have passed, the prevalence of the Bangla language at all levels has not been confirmed.

National language policy has not been done to ensure the use of Bengali language at all levels including administration, state management, education-technology expansion, language development and to establish the rights and dignity of the language of the hill people. Since independence, various governments have taken various initiatives to ensure the use of Bengali language at all levels. A review of these shows that the Constitution, the Bengali Language Promotion Act of 1987, the High Court judgment in 2014, and more than a dozen government orders, circulars, or rules mandate the use of Bengali. There is not as much interest in spreading the correctness of the Bengali language as there is in the spread of English to remote areas. The idea that everything will be done only by learning English is prevailing.

Moreover, the language mixed with the welfare of social media is making Bengali even more unintelligible. However, according to the constitution, the government and related institutions must protect the fair use and dignity of the national language Bengali. Apart from the constitutional obligation, the existing law and two separate orders of the High Court have not ensured the spread of the Bengali language at all levels. Even if signboards, nameplates, and billboards have notices written in Bengali, there is no supervision or interest in complying with them. As a result, the importance of Bengali practice is decreasing for our new generation.

In independent Bangladesh, a law was passed on March 8, 1987, to promote the Bengali language at all levels. But that dream has always remained elusive. Every year when February comes around, there is a wide discussion about Bengali language practice and application at all levels. Then the same situation again throughout the year. For the generation growing up in the cities of the country, English is gaining more importance than Bangla.

According to the information published in the media, on January 24, 1979, nine proposals were accepted in the cabinet meeting to introduce the Bengali language at all levels. On February 12, 1998, for the first time, a bench of the High Court ruled on a case in Bengal. In addition, in 2013, given a writ, the High Court ordered public and private institutions to phase out the use of Bengali, signboards, billboards, banner car number plates, nameplates of various departments, advertisements in English and mixed languages in the media.

The latest sample survey conducted by the National Media Institute (NIMCO) showed that only 51 nameplates of 500 business establishments in the Kantaban to Science Laboratory area of the capital are written in Bengali script. The number of nameplates written in English is 280. On the other hand, there are 169 'Banglish' type nameplates mixed with Bengali and English. On February 4, 2000, the then Secretary General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, wrote a letter to 188 countries calling for the observance of the International Mother Language Day. Article 3 of the original constitution of 1972 states that the state language of the republic is Bengali.

Section 3(1) of this Act states, "After the introduction of this Act, everywhere in Bangladesh including government offices - courts, parastatals Documents and correspondence, court questions, and other legal acts must be written in Bengali in all cases other than communications with foreigners by agencies and autonomous institutions.''Furthermore, 'If any person applies or appeals in a language other than Bengali in any of the said workplaces, then It will be considered illegal and void." The Indian subcontinent was under British rule for many years. English is ingrained in our bones due to years of being under them. The British wanted to impose their educational system on us. As a result of many years of rule, their intention is very successful today.

Although we have a glorious history of language rights, our passion for learning foreign languages is greater. Even if you don't know your language properly, Although Bangla is a rich language, because of us, it seems that a loose feeling can be seen. Maybe this situation has arisen while giving priority to foreign languages. That does not mean that learning English or other languages is not important. An attempt is made to measure the current generation's interest in the Bengali language. Should this be the case? Bangla will be practiced throughout the year correctly. Our children will not be busy day and night with thick books of foreign literature.

A part of it will be spent on Bengali books. In general, Bangla should be given a place not only on paper but also on paper. Only then will the heart be pure. The great self-sacrifice of the martyrs in the language movement of 1952, and recognition as the international mother tongue all over the world are enough to make us proud. Also, there is a lot to be said about this language. It is good if there is an emphasis on the correct use of Bengali along with English. The use of Bangla should be ensured at all levels.

The writer is a, Essayist and columnist Pabna.