Bangladesh demands Bangla be adopted as UN's official language

A senior Bangladesh minister on Tuesday exhorted the United Nations to formally adopt Bangla as one of its official languages, on the day when the country celebrated the Language Martyrs Day to commemorate the pioneers of the Bengali language movement.

The UN has six official languages -- English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic.

During the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly held last year, it adopted Bangla, Hindi and Urdu as the non-official languages following an India-sponsored resolution.

We are again demanding that Bangla be given the status of an official language of the UN, the ruling Awami League general secretary and senior government minister Obaidul Quader said.

The minister made this comment after paying tributes at Central Shaheed Minar here to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement by placing wreaths marking Amar Ekushey.

"Let the spirit of Amar Ekushey inspire the fight against the anti-liberation forces," Quader asserted.

Ekus