‘Inqilab Zindabad’ can’t continue to preserve Bangla as mother tongue: Tuku

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has said that slogans such as “Inqilab Zindabad” should not be promoted if Bangla is to be preserved as the mother tongue.

He made the remarks on Saturday at around 12:30pm while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion, cultural programme and prize-giving ceremony held at the auditorium of the Sirajganj District Shilpakala Academy in Sirajganj, marking International Mother Language Day.

Tuku said that the foundation of national identity is being weakened because people are not making enough effort to properly learn and practise their own language.

“National consciousness is more important than slogans,” he said, adding that if people truly reflected on the Bangla language, today’s youth would not chant “Inqilab.”

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He described the slogan as belonging to another language and to those who once tried to take away Bangla.

Referring to his experience during the Liberation War, the minister said he had joined the war prepared to sacrifice his life for social change.

However, he expressed concern that society now appears to be moving in the opposite direction, with the growing use of words like “Inqilab” that, according to him, have no connection with Bangla.

“Yet these words are becoming the language of our youth,” he added.

He said that 21 February was the first step towards Bangladesh’s independence, as it laid the foundation for the country to emerge as a sovereign state.

“The struggle for language was a struggle for a map,” he said, noting that the movement that began on 21 February culminated in independence in 1971.

Addressing the new generation, he stressed that the key message of Language Day is to uphold and protect one’s mother tongue above all.

The minister also spoke about development and industrialisation, saying that while many advocate filling the country with industries, land availability remains a major concern.

“Industries require land. If we establish factories on agricultural land, we will have to depend on others for food,” he said.

He urged citizens to love their country, language, resources and nation, saying that sustainable development is only possible through a sense of responsibility and affection towards one’s own land, culture and assets.

The event was chaired by District Commissioner Aminul Islam. Among others, Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Santu and Sirajganj district BNP General Secretary Saidur Rahman Bacchu also spoke at the programme.