Language and culture of ethnic minorities
Almost 46 ethnic minorities are existing in Bangladesh having diversity of language and culture. But their culture and language are so much vulnerable, that possibility of the ethnic people losing their cultural identity cannot be ruled out. It is a matter of anxiety that the government is not taking any adequate steps to save the ethnic cultures. The government had set up three institutes named "Upajatiyo Sangskritic Institute" in the 1980s. But these institutes exist on paper only. The government of Bangladesh never tried to show proper respect to its ethnic people. The very term "Upajati" causes humiliation to the tribal people. Bangla Academy was asked several times to withdraw the word "Upajati" and to use the word tribal. Actually the word 'Tribal' never means "Upajati or "sub-nation". In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Americana and Oxford Dictionary I did not find such meaning. Ethnic minorities have their own language, culture, history, customs and traditions. Those are neglected in practice. Their children cannot learn their own language. They were never introduced with their own script. Bengalees sacrificed their lives for Bangla language. But ethnic minorities are on the verge of losing their linguistic identity.
February 21 has been declared the International Mother Language Day. But other languages in the country are being neglected. The conscience of Rafique, Salam, Barkat is crying behind the Martyrs' Monument (Shaheed Minar). It is not a dream or an illogical demand that we want introduction of the ethnic languages at the primary education level. If the government doesn't come forward in this respect, who will care about the language of the ethnic minorities?
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