UNB, Dhaka

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat and the staff of the Embassy on Sunday launched a special video message to the Bangladeshi people marking the International Mother Language Day. In the video, American staff honored those who had sacrificed their lives to preserve Bangla language and wished the people of the country saying ‘Amar Ekushey’ (Immortal 21st) in their respective mother tongues by holding placards. Many American employees of the Embassy grew up speaking a language other than English, typical in a country with a rich and diverse tradition of welcoming immigrants. These employees discussed how their mother languages have enriched their lives and the United States. “Language is the lifeblood of a nation, and we pay tribute to those who helped preserve the Bangla language throughout a dark period in history,” said Ambassador Bernicat. “Our team at the Embassy is honored to share this video with you,” she said. The video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/TRqL1sWSdTo The theme of the 2016 International Mother Language Day is “Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.” International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in November 1999.