“Education infrastructure is being built. There are more than 150 universities in Bangladesh and the number will increase in future,” he said at the inaugural session of two-day national language festival.
North South University (NSU) organised the event titled 'Language League 2019’ on its campus. The minister welcomed the initiative.
“Bangla is our mother tongue. We have to cherish our language and culture,” he said.
Mannan reminded everyone that the first Asian to win Nobel Prize was Rabindranath Tagore, a Bangalee, and urged the youths to know more about their culture.
“We’re ready to help you,” he said. “Our Prime Minister always listens to the youth.”
NSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Atiqul Islam said his university is among the country’s leading educational institutions.
“We have links with many universities across the world. None of the NSU graduates are unemployed. Everyone, even the children of rickshaw pullers, can enroll here since we award scholarships to meritorious students,” he said.
Prof Islam said English is an international language and China is a good trade partner of Bangladesh. “So the three languages (Bangla, English and Chinese) are important for us,” he noted.
Yan Hualong, minister counsellor of China in Bangladesh, said such language festivals are important for friendship and communication.
“It also plays an important role in exchanging culture. There is a good friendship between Bangladesh and China. We also have a good economic development relation. So, it’s (such language festivals) vital for us,” he said.
Daily Samakal acting Editor Mustafiz Shafi, and NSU Board of Trustees Chairman Benjir Ahmed, among others, spoke there.