AGARTALA, February 21(TIWN): Artists, poets and the people from Tripura and Bangladesh jointly took part in a function to observe international mother language day with a call to promote multi-cultural and multi-linguistic diversity all over the world with mutual respect and understanding, here today.

A rally was started from Sishu Bihar School to observe International Mother Language Day today. Tripura Minister for Information and Culture Bhanulal Saha and two other delegates from Bangladesh also took part in the rally and the rally travelled through various routes of the city. Later the function followed by cultural programmes. They also paid floral tribute to Martyrs Tomb'.

Speaking in the occasion Bhanulal Saha said that “In the age of globalisation there is a craze to learn English and mother tongues are being neglected. A number of languages in the world is becoming extinct. This will not augur well for development of language and culture because even to learn good English one must have a command over one’s mother tongue,” the minister added.

Agartala Bangladesh VISA office also observed International Mother Language Day. Director of Bangladesh VISA office Obidur Rahaman said that people of both sides of the border speak the same language, write the same language and eat the same food, so it is a natural cultural expression to celebrate Mother Language Day.

Rahaman further said that "The people of the state expressed their solidarity to our liberation struggle for which we are grateful to them. We are delighted that we have got an opportunity to share our culture with them." 
Tripura had accommodated over 16 lakh people from Bangladesh during the liberation movement in 1971, the number which was more than the original population of the state, Rahaman added.