Old Bangla (Bengali) Prose

Cover of the book Purono Bangla Goddo (old Bengali prose)

Image courtesy: The Daily Star (Dhaka)

The Bengali-language book, Purono Bangla Goddo, by Professor Anisuzzaman has been published by the Mowla Brothers, Dhaka. It provides the development and examples of old Bengali prose. Lovers of Bengali language and literature would find it both handy and useful.

The writer of the book says: "The history of Bangla prose is generally described from the beginning of the nineteenth century. But most scholars agree that some examples of Bangla prose can be found from the sixteenth century. They say that prose from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century is scattered and limited to records and documents. The development of Bangla prose, on account of continuity and essence, is noticed from the nineteenth century." 

For additional details, please read the following: Old Bangla Prose

 

Bengali Language in Bangladesh Is Losing Its Importance

 A weekly 'Bangla Kagoj' article on the waning position of the Bangla (Bengali) language in Bangladesh (Click on the above images to read them in an expanded format)

Through struggle and blood, the Bangla (Bengali) language earned its rightful place as one of the two state language of Pakistan after 1952.

Salam Saleh Uddin, in his Bengali-language article, published in the weekly Bangla Kagoj (February 17, 2015), provides the background of this language movement in Bangladesh culminating in the independence of the country in 1971 and Bengali being its sole state language.

The writer then demonstrates with facts and reasoning how the preeminence of this language in the country is gradually being jeopardized by unfocused and unthoughtful government policies and decisions. He says among 114 universities in the country, only 18 have the Bengali as a subject in the curricula. This is all the more shameful because countries around the world in every February 21 observe the International Mother Language Day following Bangladesh's example of the Bengali language movement. 

In addition, the globalization with its free economy and incursion of the international communication media (Internet, TV and films), the Bengali language in Bangladesh is under aggression from both English and Hindi languages.

To read the complete article of the Bangla Kagoj in an expanded format, you may click on the two images above.