Dear Editor
When Great Britain handed control over the Indian sub-continent back to its people in 1947, two states were formed. India and Pakistan – which was an amalgamation of two areas of land around 2,000 km apart.
Pakistan insisted that Urdu would be the official language of communication and education for both despite what was then East Pakistan speaking Bengali as their first language.
This caused dissent and on 21 February 1952, a demonstration was held at which a number of students lost their lives.
Out of this event the Bangladesh Language Movement was born and it is commemorated each year on 21 February, celebrating the equal status of Urdu and Bengali as the nation’s main languages in what is known as Mother Language Day.
In order to celebrate and honour the cultural narrative of the Bengali language to tell the story of the Bangladeshi people, part of the Bengali community of Bedford came together on Saturday 18 February 2023 in the first of what is hoped will be an annual event promoting the culture and traditions of Bangladesh.
Funding from the High Street Action Zone and the Town Centre Priority Fund along with support from bpha, the Legacy of Windrush Descendants, Friends (LOWD), Upenyu Nerwamagwana, The Higgins Museum and Fusion Lifestyle, and further input from Luton-based organisations Proyas and CYCD, enabled iLearn, Bedford to put together a programme of music, exhibitions or Bangladeshi culture and history, the history of the High Street and the effect and influence of the integration from the Asian diaspora into Bedford.
The event was opened by Councillor Abu Sultan, with a ceremony of laying flowers at a replica of the Bangladeshi Language Movement (the Shahid Minar) memorial in Dhaka. The replica was designed and made by Dr Selina Lisa, one of the organisers.
Other dignitaries in attendance were Susan Lousada, the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Lady Jane Clifford, the High Sheriff, Mayor Dave Hodgson, MP for Bedford Mohammad Yasin and Sunita Parbhakar from bpha.
The event continued with opportunities to see an authentic rickshaw, savour Bangladeshi food and view performances of dance, poetry.
Arts and crafts based on Bangladeshi traditional folk art and lifestyle, made by pupils from Queens Park
Academy and Kings Oak Primary, and they also performed traditional dance. The Badhan adult dance group also gave a beautiful and graceful performance of traditional Bengali dance.
iLearn Bedford provides a space for women to learn new skills and crafts, network, keep fit and offer each other support. They operate in the Kingsbrook and Cauldwell areas of Bedford. For more information email ilearn_beford@outlook.com.
Having an event like this is so important to the Bangladeshi and wider Asian community, and it is something I have wanted to do for so long.
I am most grateful to the funders, organisations and individuals who joined with iLearn Bedford to form a working group. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, which we hope will be even more successful.
We are also looking forward to increasing the numbers attending iLearn sessions, on Monday and Wednesday mornings at Kings Oak and John Bunyan Leisure Centre, respectively.
A warm welcome is guaranteed to women from any part of the Bedford community.
Ralley Rahman
Founder and Chair of iLearn
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