Ekushey in Ontario
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Akhtar Hossain
ONTARIO, Canada's largest province, has accorded a new recognition to the International Mother-Language Day. A resolution was passed by Ontario Parliament at Queen's Park, Toronto to accord the recognition. The notice of motion, moved by Richmond constituency Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Reza Moridi was passed late last month, following elaborate discussions and debate. Invited by the Speaker In-Charge Ms. Leeanna Pendergast, those who took part in the debate included Peter Shruman, Rozario Marchese, Mrs. Laura Albanese, Ted Chudleigh, Khalil Ramal, and Mike Colle.
Following the recognition, February 21 will be celebrated in Toronto and other areas of Ontario Province. Obviously, this is an exemplary recognition of the International Mother-Language Day by the provincial government of a country outside Bangladesh. Reza Moridi, who spoke for 12 minutes for the notice highlighted the significance and background of International Mother-Language Day. The issue of preservation of mother languages is significant for multilingual Canada and other countries.
Author and playwright Akhtar Hossain living in Toronto has been campaigning for declaring February 21 a public holiday for the observance of International Mother-Language Day. He created a favourable consensus on the issue among various Canadian government and non-government personalities and organisations. In a letter he sent to Ontario provincial premier, he wrote: "Ontario can be the champion province by proclaiming importance to the linguistic diversity. The world is waiting for a leader who can take the necessary initiatives to protect the human languages. Let's start with a historical decision..."
He sent a copy of this letter to Reza Moridi, MPP last January and explained to him the background of the International Mother Language Day, and what he was aiming at. At a photo-session held in front of the Parliament Hill MPPs and a multilingual audience congratulated him. The example of Ontario opened the door for other countries of the world to recognise and celebrate the International Mother-Language Day on February 21. It was a recognition of the martyrs who in 1952 gave life in Dhaka for mother tongue.
(The writer can be reached at e-mail:
ahossa0431@rogers.com)
ONTARIO, Canada's largest province, has accorded a new recognition to the International Mother-Language Day. A resolution was passed by Ontario Parliament at Queen's Park, Toronto to accord the recognition. The notice of motion, moved by Richmond constituency Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Reza Moridi was passed late last month, following elaborate discussions and debate. Invited by the Speaker In-Charge Ms. Leeanna Pendergast, those who took part in the debate included Peter Shruman, Rozario Marchese, Mrs. Laura Albanese, Ted Chudleigh, Khalil Ramal, and Mike Colle.
Following the recognition, February 21 will be celebrated in Toronto and other areas of Ontario Province. Obviously, this is an exemplary recognition of the International Mother-Language Day by the provincial government of a country outside Bangladesh. Reza Moridi, who spoke for 12 minutes for the notice highlighted the significance and background of International Mother-Language Day. The issue of preservation of mother languages is significant for multilingual Canada and other countries.
Author and playwright Akhtar Hossain living in Toronto has been campaigning for declaring February 21 a public holiday for the observance of International Mother-Language Day. He created a favourable consensus on the issue among various Canadian government and non-government personalities and organisations. In a letter he sent to Ontario provincial premier, he wrote: "Ontario can be the champion province by proclaiming importance to the linguistic diversity. The world is waiting for a leader who can take the necessary initiatives to protect the human languages. Let's start with a historical decision..."
He sent a copy of this letter to Reza Moridi, MPP last January and explained to him the background of the International Mother Language Day, and what he was aiming at. At a photo-session held in front of the Parliament Hill MPPs and a multilingual audience congratulated him. The example of Ontario opened the door for other countries of the world to recognise and celebrate the International Mother-Language Day on February 21. It was a recognition of the martyrs who in 1952 gave life in Dhaka for mother tongue.
(The writer can be reached at e-mail:
ahossa0431@rogers.com)