Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, emphasized the importance of language alongside technological advancement, stating, “With the dominance of technology comes the dominance of language. The language of the country that continues to dominate technology will also be in the spotlight, and the world will rush to learn that language. When Sputnik flew into space, the world rushed to learn the Russian language. In schools and universities that didn’t offer Russian, both students and parents lost interest. Similarly, when China advanced in technology, there was a surge in the learning of the Chinese language. The country that leads the world will see its language gain prominence. Countries with nothing to offer will see no interest in their language, or at best, it will remain at a low level of interest.”
Dr. Yunus made these remarks on Friday (February 21) at the inaugural ceremony of a four-day event organized by the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka, marking the Great Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day 2025.
He reaffirmed the collective commitment to preserving all mother languages, stating, “Despite being dedicated to promoting our own language, if a nation has nothing to contribute to the world’s storehouse of knowledge, it will be difficult to generate global interest in its language. Interest in a language is closely tied to literature, technology, and science. When we speak in our mother tongue, we must remember that the mother language is our primary language. Even though this language may seem harsh at first, it can evolve into a highly respected language spoken by many people from different countries, provided it plays a strategic role in global progress.”
Dr. Yunus further added, “Apart from technology, if a nation can lead in any area, the interest in its language will naturally grow, no matter how complex the language may be. As the nation advances, so does its language. The respect for the language increases.”
Highlighting the personal significance of the mother language, the Chief Advisor emphasized, “Interest in language is intrinsically linked to literature, technology, and science. When we speak in our mother tongue, we must remember that it is our fundamental language. That language, no matter how harsh it may sound at first, can ultimately become a globally respected language if it can secure a strategic role in global progress.”
The event was chaired by Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, with Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury from Dhaka University presenting the keynote.
Among others who spoke at the event were Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division Siddique Zobair, UNESCO Head of Office in Bangladesh Susan Vige, and Director of the International Mother Language Institute, Professor Dr. Muhammad Asaduzzaman.
At the event, two distinguished individuals and the Bangladesh Embassy in France were awarded for their contributions to the preservation, development, and research of the mother language.
