<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'times new roman',serif;font-size:small"><span class="" style="font-size:10px;margin:0px 0px 12px;display:inline-block;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:NotoSans,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px">Created on August 14, 2013 at 02:06</span><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:NotoSans,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:20px"></span><h2 class="" style="margin:0px 0px 25px;font-family:Bitter,serif;font-weight:normal;line-height:30px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:24px">
Indigenous languages facing negligence, risk of extinction <br><span class="" style="font-size:14px;display:inline-block!important;line-height:16px;padding:8px 0px 0px">Muktasree Chakma Sathi</span><br></h2><h4 class="" style="margin:10px 0px 15px;font-family:Bitter,serif;line-height:22px!important;color:rgb(35,31,32);font-size:16px!important">
The lack of preservation initiatives may expedite the process of their extinction</h4><div><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:20px!important;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:NotoSans,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
The government is yet to take concrete measures to preserve the country’s endangered languages, especially those spoken by the indigenous people, and protect the rights of linguistic minorities.</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:20px!important;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:NotoSans,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
The problem persists despite the fact that there is a government institution with the particular responsibility to take care of endangered and near extinct languages. The International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) was launched on March 15, 2001 and the label “international” meant that its area of work and research would include languages and linguistic heritages of other countries as well.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:20px!important;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:NotoSans,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">According to sources, other than the Bangalees, there are at least 45 groups of people indigenous to the country, with an approximate number of 30 languages spoken. Experts say many of these languages have no standard written forms, meaning the history, tradition, wisdom and knowledge of these communities are passed on orally. The lack of preservation initiatives may expedite the process of their extinction, but equally importantly as pointed out by Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum would also stand opposed to the linguistic rights enshrined within the constitution.</p>
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Access full article below: </p><div><a href="http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-amp-rights/2013/aug/14/indigenous-languages-facing-negligence-risk-extinction">http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-amp-rights/2013/aug/14/indigenous-languages-facing-negligence-risk-extinction</a><br>
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