Language & International Mother Language Day
| Bangladesh or Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh . English is widely used in education and business. Arabic is also read, understood and studied by many. Bangla is spoken by around 250 million people throughout the world.
The UNESCO has proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language to be observed globally in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for establishing the rightful place of Bangla. The proclamation came in the form of resolution unanimously adopted at the plenary of the UNESCO said: ??February 21 will be proclaimed International Mother Language Day throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this day in 1952' .
The Central Martyrs' Monument in Dhaka was erected in memory of those who laid down their lives for establishing the dignity and rightful place of Bangla on February 21, 1953.
On this day every year, the people pay homage to the language martyrs and throng the monument in thousands in bare foot. The celebration starts from zero hour and continues for the whole day. The monument is bedecked with flower and wreaths. The whole country joins in the celebration.
Architecture |
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Climate, and availability of indigenous and imported resources characterized the development of architectural patterns in Bangladesh . Pre-Muslim monastic architecture followed an indigenous style with terracotta d???§?|cor, emulating important influences of the period and the region. The Mughals brought about a fundamental change by introducing elements of central dome, arches and tall central entrances. The European style was first observed in the churches of Dhaka and then in other buildings. At the turn of the nineteenth century, a hybrid of Mughal and European styles emerged. Modern architecture in its diverse forms started appearing only in the 1960s. |
Customs and Festivals
Socio-cultural heritage of Bangladesh is a unique blend of traditional customs and external influences. Some of the customs and traditions are rooted in prehistory, others are relatively recent. Some superstitions continue to play a role in society.
Art
Bangladesh has a rich heritage of ancient terracotta and pottery. In the Pala period, and briefly into Sena period, bronze and other mental sculpture flourished along with stone sculpture, until Rajmahal, |
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the source of stone quarrying was cut off by Delhi . Miniature palm-leaf illustrations also developed in that period. In the Sultanate period, glazed tiles in uniquely flaming colours and patterns were developed as decorative
Literature
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The earliest available specimen of Bengali literature is about a thousand years old. During the medieval period, Bengali literature developed considerably under the patronage of Muslim rulers. Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi and Alaol were some of the famous poets of the period.
The era of modern Bengali literature began in the late nineteenth century. Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan Datta, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyai, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyai, Mir Mosharraf Hossain and Kazi Abdul Wadud were amongst the pioneers of modern Bengali literature. |
Dance
| Classical forms of Indo-Iranian and South Indian origin have been adopted in Bangladesh dance an art-form. In ballets, folk forms and themes also abound. Limited practice of folk, tribal and social dances are also in vogue. Among the tribal dances, the Monipuri and Santal are best-known. Institutions like Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts and the Shilpakala Academy of Fine Arts and the Shilpakala Academy have helped popularize dance dramas and other forms of Performing Arts. |
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Music
Music in Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct categories: classical, folk, and modern. Classical music, both vocal and instrumental, is rooted in the sub-continental tradition refined during early Turkish rule in the sub-Himalayan region. Folk music, nurtured through the ages by village-poets and mendicants are rich in devotional mysticism and love-lore. The best known forms are Bhatiali, Baul, Marfati, Murshidi and Bhawaiya. Modern Bengali Music has blended Western and Middle-eastern traits with traditional forms. Bangla songs are particularly rich in lyrics, with famous poets contributing to their subtlety both I words and tunes. Contemporary music and orchestration has a marked influence of the West.
Drama
Theatre is an old tradition of Bangladesh . Open air rural operetta known as ??Jatra', depicting mythological episodes, love-lore and acts of heroism is an old form continuing to be staged in the country. Modern plays have their beginning in the British period and are staged mostly in the urban areas. Bangladesh playwrights have succeeded in developing a distinct character of local theatre and a growing class of urban ardience.
Film
| Cinema became a popular form of mass entertainment in the Nineteen Thirties, and projection theatres ran with Calcutta , Bombay and Lahore-made films was produced in Bangladesh . At present the industry is capable of producing around 80 feature films per year. The films of Bangladesh display an entertainment pattern similar to those of the other countries of the sub-continent. The themes range from social and historical ones to fantasies and thrillers. There were a few ventures in art-films. Of late ther has been an abundance of short experimental feature films and documentaries. |
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