Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has laid emphasis on the importance of "clear and unambiguous" interpretation of languages and expressions in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In that context, he said that some populist leaders have used the pandemic as a ‘punching bag’ to ignite nationalistic or sectarian firestorms of denial and division.
Whereas, Momen said, leaders like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or former German Chancellor Angela Merkel “spoke the language of compassion, solidarity, responsibility and inclusion.”
He made the remarks in a video message at the two-day virtual event celebrating the International Mother Language Day themed "Language in the Time of the Covid-19 Pandemic" that ended on Friday.
The event was organised by Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with the Centre for Genocide Studies, Dhaka University and School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Taylor’s University, Malaysia.
The event brought together diverse cultures and languages through the active and spontaneous participation of multiple countries and institutions, which reflects the essence of the International Mother Language Day.
Maldives Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon highlighted the important role of language during the pandemic with regards to getting the right information about the virus and preventative measures provided accurately to fight against it.
She also remembered the Language Movement of Bangladesh in 1952.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Golam Sarwar said that International Mother Language Day shows the spirit to preserve and protect cultural and linguistic diversity.
Taylor’s University Malaysia Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management Executive Dean Prof Dr Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan touched on the linkage of languages towards the tapestry of cultures across borders.
He described the vast changes in languages, cultures and social trends which have emerged as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The University of Dhaka Centre for Genocide Studies (CGS) Director Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmed in his welcome remarks pointed out that the language of the virus, the language of the state, and the language of the people must come together if we were to overcome the pandemic.
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education Director Shigeru Aoyagi and UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar also spoke at the event.
Taylor’s University adjunct Prof Dr Wan Zawawi presented the keynote paper.
Next, a panel discussion themed ‘Pandemic and Language’ was held wherein scholars Dr Nunghathai, Chulalongkorn University of Thailand, Shamini Flint from Singapore, Preeta Samarasan from France, Prof Joseph Gonzales from Hong Kong & Professor Amena Mohsin from Dhaka University, Bangladesh participated.
The event was opened with a creative reinterpretation by Taylor’s University and Dhaka University of the iconic song ‘Amar vaiyer rokte rangano’.
A short documentary depicting the history of International Mother Language Day was screened as a remembrance of the sacrifices and martyrs of this historical event.
On the second day, Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh spoke. High Commissioner of India, Chargé d' Affaires of Nepal and acting High Commissioner of Maldives also made brief remarks during the opening session.
Apart from Bangladesh, Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur based diplomatic Missions of India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Russian Federation, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan participated with their distinct cultural heritage through plays, musicals and dance performances.
