Speaking up to save Bangladesh s indigenous languages from dying
About 45 indigenous groups with an estimated population of three million have distinct languages and cultures
Bangladesh s indigenous languages are under threat and some could die without positive action to preserve them.
Catholic and ethnic community leaders have called on authorities to protect several indigenous languages that face extinction due to a lack of government support and community efforts.
The call was made as people, irrespective of faith and ethnicity in Bangladesh and across the globe, marked the United Nations-designated International Mother Language Day on Feb. 21.
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Digital divide forces poor Bangladeshi students out of school
Poverty and lack of technology lead to drop-outs as students work to support their families
Thousands of students in Bangladesh are feared to have dropped out of school due to the problems caused by Covid-19. (Photo: Stephan Uttom/UCA News)
Subol Sarker was a regular seventh-grade student at Dashuria High School in Bangladesh s Pabna district before Covid-19 forced the school to close indefinitely in March last year.
Ten months on, the 14-year-old Hindu boy has dropped out of the school after being completely detached from formal education. He has become a daily wage earner to support his poor family.