Chinese language boosts following business boom

Ismail HossainBangladeshis are now learning Chinese in greater number, once thought to be the hardest language to learn, to simplify their ways to businesses, professions, study and many other relations with China -- the world's fastest growing economy. At least four universities and some language institutes offer Chinese language courses to meet the growing demand of the language in Bangladesh. The leading businessmen of the country having trade relations with China learn Chinese after travelling there physically. "We introduced Chinese Language Centre (CLC) in BRAC University two years back and in the meantime, some 300 students, most of whom are businessmen and different professionals, joined their practical world," said Mr Abdur Rahim, a teacher of CLC. He said, "Chinese language is the most frequently spoken language in the world with over one billion speakers. It is one of the key languages in the world culture and in world business as well." Mr Rahim said since the expansion and the deepening of China's economic globalization, more and more foreign countries have been learning Chinese. China-Bangladesh trade volume was US$ 7.0 billion last year and it is likely to reach US$ 8.0 billion in the running fiscal. "So, on a number of practical grounds speaking Chinese language is very useful and for some people, it is a must," he said. North South University and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology opened Confucius Language Institute to teach Chinese language besides University of Dhaka- the oldest Chinese teaching centre. "Students were reluctant to learn Chinese Language at the Institute of Modern Lan­guages of Dhaka University which was established in 1970," said Professor Monsur Musa, head of Bangla Language Department of IML and also its former director. IML official statistics say 300 students appeared for admission to Chinese Language Junior Course, of whom 150 qualified. The officials said until five years back most of the seats would remain vacant in Chinese Language Depart­ment. Nobody had any reason to learn Chinese as it was of no use for them. Kabir Humayun, a Bangladeshi poet and journalist who lived five years in China for study, said. "Chinese language skill will open the doors for Bangladeshi people to the prospects of exchanges with China including cooperation in diplomacy, construction, industry, agriculture and technology," he added.