On 21 February, the world observes International Mother Language Day, a day that honors the beauty, dignity, and power of every mother tongue. This day was proclaimed by UNESCO to promote linguistic and cultural diversity across the globe.
For the Rohingya community, this day carries deep meaning.
Our mother language is not only a way to speak — it is our identity, our history, and our soul. Through our language, we pass down stories of Arakan, our traditions, our poetry, and our faith from one generation to the next. Without language, a nation slowly loses its memory.
Today, many Rohingya children are growing up in refugee camps in Bangladesh and other countries. Despite hardship, we continue to protect and develop our language, including the use of the Hanifi script. Education in our own language helps children learn with confidence. It strengthens their minds and preserves their roots.
International Mother Language Day reminds us:
To respect and protect our Rohingya language
To teach our children to read and write in their mother tongue
To document our history in our own words
To stand proudly with our linguistic identity
Language is a right. Language is dignity. Language is survival.
On this 21st February, let us renew our commitment to preserving and promoting the Rohingya language for future generations.
Our language is our existence.
Our mother tongue is our future.