"For Bangla speakers, 'Ekush' (21) represents an unwavering resolve to never bow down," he said, speaking at an event at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka on Friday.
He highlighted the unparalleled sacrifices made to secure Bangla's recognition as the state language, saying: "The sacrifice of lives for one’s mother tongue is unmatched in world history. The spirit of preserving and honoring it transcends all ethnic and religious boundaries."
Yunus also emphasized the role of the International Mother Language Institute, founded in 2001, in preserving and researching mother languages worldwide.
"Language carries a community’s history, economy, and culture. No matter how many languages one learns, the mother tongue remains deeply rooted in the soul," he noted.
Calling for collective efforts to safeguard all languages, he added: "Beyond emotional attachment, there is a practical necessity in preservation. We never know which unknown mother tongue may one day reshape the world. Ignoring that possibility would be a grave mistake."
