The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Organisation for Recognition of Bangla as an Official Language of the UN, Bangladesh chapter was formed in the capital yesterday to create public awareness in favour of the movement.

In this connection a meeting was held at Gulshan presided over by former chief election commissioner Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf.

A 31-member committee was formed with Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf as President and Prof Omar Faruque its general secretary. Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor of Daily New Nation was selected vice president of the committee. Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf said a large number (over five per cent) of the total population of the world speaks in Bangla. So it is legitimate to demand the recognition of Bangla as an official language of the UN. He also said Bangla has a unique quality to absorb words from other languages. He called on the Bangladeshis living in America to form their own chapter of the organisation to make the movement tougher.

Prof Omar Faruque said it is a praiseworthy initiative and I am looking forward to be involved more intimately with such a movement. He thanked everyone who took the initial steps to form the organisation.

It may be mentioned that the organisation known, as ORBOLUN, is a UK based organisation that has taken the pioneering move to make Bangla one of the UN official languages.

The organisation was formed in a meeting held at Bangladesh centre in Birmingham in UK on July 8, 2006. In that meeting a five-member committee was formed with Tofazzal Hussain Chowdhury as its convener. Subsequently a full-fledged 21-member committee was formed with former ambassador Dr Tozammel Huq as President and Tofazzal Hussain Chowdhury its General Secretary.

Following this the leaders requested Prof Omar Faruque to open a branch of this organisation in Bangladesh to expedite the movement. In this context the Bangladesh chapter was formed.