Sat Feb 22 04:42:14 UTC 2025: ## Mamata Banerjee Celebrates International Mother Language Day, Highlights Bengali’s Status
**Kolkata, West Bengal, February 22, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee observed International Mother Language Day on Friday, emphasizing Bengali’s status as a classical language and the fifth most spoken language globally. The event, held in Kolkata, saw Ms. Banerjee recite a poem titled “shanti” (peace).
While acknowledging the sacrifices made for the Bengali language in Bangladesh on social media earlier in the day, Ms. Banerjee refrained from directly addressing the current political situation in the neighboring country, stating she would only speak about West Bengal. She expressed hope for peace in Bangladesh, a sentiment she’s previously voiced amid recent political turmoil.
Ms. Banerjee highlighted the state government’s efforts in securing classical language status for Bengali, crediting State Education Minister Bratya Basu’s work. This status was conferred by the Union Cabinet in October 2024, alongside Marathi, Pali, Assamese, and Prakrit.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of respecting all languages, mentioning the state government’s efforts to promote Rajbanshi, Urdu, Gorkha, and Ol Chiki. The event concluded with tributes to the late veteran Bengali singer-songwriter Pratul Mukhopadhyay.
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