NNA - On Thursday, February 22, 2025, the Lebanese city of Tripoli witnessed a distinguished cultural event organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Lebanon in cooperation with the Elite Center for Culture and Education, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day and Martyrs' Day in Bangladesh.
 
The event was held at the Elite Center head office , and was attended by a crowd of official, cultural and media figures, led by the Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Bangladesh, Mr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain and his wife, Mrs. Maimuna Tsanem Muna, MP Ashraf Rifi, Mayor of Tripoli Dr. Riad Yamq, former MP Dr. Rami Fanj, former Mayor of Mina Abdul Qader Alam El-Din, Captain Munther Kabbara, Head of the Elite Center, Ms. Iman Darniqa Al-Kamali and Mr. Amer Al-Kamali, in addition to a large number of university professors, media professionals, judges, lawyers and those interested in cultural affairs. The event was also attended by the Chargé d'Affaires of the Philippine Embassy, ​​Dr. Mark Joshua P. Ponce, and the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Farhad Golozadi.
 
The event included various cultural segments that reflected the richness of Bangladeshi culture, where Mrs. Maimuna Tsanem Muna from the Embassy of Bangladesh presented the celebration segments, starting the program with the Lebanese and Bengali national anthems, followed by a minute of silence for the souls of the language martyrs in Bangladesh, who sacrificed their lives defending their right to use their mother tongue.
 
After that, Ms. Maimuna read the speech of the Honorable Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, then a group of videos and songs were shown that embodied the importance of preserving the mother tongue.
 
Dernaika,
In her opening speech, the President of Elite Center, Iman Dernaika Kamali, welcomed the attendees, expressing her appreciation for the cooperation of the Embassy of Bangladesh in organizing this event.
Dernaika reviewed the story of the Bangladeshi people's struggle for their mother tongue, noting that "language is the soul of the nation", and that it is not just a means of communication, but rather the spiritual homeland and cultural heritage. She added: "In this delicate stage that Lebanon is going through, as it struggles to regain its health and sovereignty, let us know that there are knights of another kind in another time and place in the world, who have linked up with another weapon, which is the "cultural arsenal" on a different front, which is the front of preserving the mother tongue."
 
Al-Kamali pointed out her pride in the Arabic language, saying: "It is enough for us to be proud that our Arabic language is the language of the Holy Quran, and that our Phoenician ancestors were pioneers in the field of writing and civilization, who carried the letter to the world, to present the alphabet that formed the basis for many of the languages ​​we speak today."
 
Al-Kamali called for promoting the values ​​of openness, tolerance and respect for the different other, and making this day an occasion to raise the banner of the "mother tongue" fluttering in the sky of the homeland, to achieve "unity in diversity."
 
Rifi
‎‎MP Ashraf Rifi, the guest of honor on this occasion, praised the great efforts made to organize this distinguished cultural event. He expressed his admiration for Dr. Dernaika’s activity, which reflects elegance and professionalism, and captures attention with its valuable content, noting that "she takes us on exploratory journeys to diverse civilizations and countries across the East, West, North and South, opening new cultural and historical doors for us.
 
He pointed out that what we are discovering today about the Bengali language, which has become an official language after a long struggle, reflects the struggle of peoples to preserve their national identities. He added, "We are all struggling to impose our existence, just as the Palestinian state is struggling to achieve its sovereignty. In Lebanon, we affirm our adherence to our sovereignty and our preservation of our identity."
 
H.E. Anwar Hossain
 
The Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Bangladesh, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, began his speech by praising the souls of the Bangladeshi martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the right to use their mother tongue, stressing that their linguistic movement contributed to the birth of the state of Bangladesh.
 
He expressed his great admiration for the city of Tripoli, describing it as "the city of culture in Lebanon, the city of science and scientists, the city of coexistence, and he stressed that its people enjoy the values ​​of generosity and love, and that he feels love and warmth there as if he is in a homeland and among his family."
 
Hossain praised the role of the Elite Center for Culture in Tripoli in organizing this meeting, noting that "the center is considered a bridge towards the world, thanks to the management of its president, Mrs. Iman Dernaika Kamali, who seeks to enhance cultural exchange between Lebanon and the world, and believes that knowledge is the key to understanding and peace."
 
He also stressed the importance of education in the mother tongue, noting that "the theme of the International Mother Language Day in 2018 is 2025 is “Making Languages ​​Count for Sustainable Development”, and that this theme highlights the importance of implementing education policies and practices as a pillar for achieving the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for inclusive and quality education and lifelong learning for all.
 
He concluded his speech by pointing out that “International Mother Language Day aims to promote linguistic diversity and protect endangered languages, calling for honoring the languages ​​that connect us to our roots and enrich our lives.”
 
At the end of the ceremony, the Chargé d’Affaires presented honorary shields to the head of the Elite Center, Iman Dernaika Kamali, to Representative Ashraf Rifi, and to the mayors of Tripoli and Mina, in appreciation of their efforts in supporting cultural events. The head of the center also presented a model of the ancient clock of Al-Tall as a gift to the Embassy of Bangladesh, as an expression of appreciation and gratitude.
 
Many souvenirs were distributed to the attendees, as an expression of thanks and appreciation for their participation in this distinguished cultural occasion. The celebration was followed by a craft exhibition and a display of books and paintings depicting the Bengali struggle for the mother tongue, giving the attendees an opportunity to get to know different aspects of Bengali culture. In a friendly atmosphere, the attendees enjoyed tasting traditional Bengali food and sweets, which added a special and distinctive flavour to the celebration.

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