Celebration of International Mother Language Day

Dear Respected Community Members,

We are privileged to invite you to celebrate International Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2024. Victorian Bangladeshi Community Foundation and Wyndham City Council have been celebrating IMLD since 2017.

In remembrance of the Bangladeshi people's efforts to uphold their own mother language, International Mother Language Day (IMLD) was announced by UNESCO in 1999 and was formally recognized by United Nations General Assembly in 2002. It is held to generate awareness of cultural diversity and multiculturalism, forming part of the UN's broader initiative "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". Held on 21February, it is a worldwide observance of the anniversary of the day in 1952 that the people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) fought to keep their language.

The "Wyndham Mother Tongue Art Project" is a response to the struggle for the recognition of the Bangla language that ties in deeply to the Bangladeshi community in Wyndham.

Celebration of IMLD is a milestone event for all language lovers in Victoria and we believe your presence would add significant value to this event.

Event Date: Saturday 24 February 2024 (11am -4pm)

Location: Tarneit Community Learning Centre,

150 Sunset Views Blvd, Tarneit - VIC3029

Event Program Schedule:

11.00 am: Welcome to the country, Smoke Ceremony and Parade with Flower Wreath at Shaheed Minar.

12.00pm to 1.00pm: National anthem and VIP guest speech

1.00pm to 4.00pm: Multicultural Performance by different language community groups

The aim of this event is to celebrate IMLD 2024 with a wider community by engaging bilingual community language schools/organizations/groups in Victoria. The event includes a featuring Parade with the laying of flower wreaths, art exhibition, cultural performances, live music, book fair, food etc.

We are looking forward for your active participation. For more details please contact Event Facilitator Nusrat Islam Borsha on 0433253930. Hope we all together make this event a successful one.

Best Regards

Victorian Bangladeshi Community Foundation-VBCF