Learn different languages but never forget your mother language: Mamata

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid homage to the language martyrs on International Mother Language Day today.

She paid her tributes during a public function at Gangarampur in Dakshin Dinajpur district. Programmes on this occasion are being held across Bengal, down to every block, to observe the day in a befitting manner.

After coming to power, Banerjee had taken the initiative to construct a memorial for the language martyrs at Desapriyo Park.

Another memorial was built near Birla Planetarium in Maidan.

The Chief Minister said, "Bangladesh is our neighbour and our friend. India-Bangladesh have long standing ties. I had been to Bangladesh in 2015 on the occasion of 21 February."

She said, "Bengali is the second most spoken language in Asia, and fifth in the world. We must learn all languages. But we must never forget the importance of our mother languages."

She maintained that the West Bengal Government had given official recognition to Nepali, Santhali, Hindi, Urdu, Gurmukhi, Rajbongshi, Kamtapuri, and Kuruk languages.