20/02/2025
Open Letter to the United Nations and UNESCO by Me
Subject: Urgent Appeal for Recognition and Preservation of the Syloti Language
Dear Esteemed Members of the United Nations and UNESCO,
I, the undersigned, write to you regarding a matter of grave cultural and linguistic importance that demands your immediate attention and intervention. The Syloti language , a culturally and phonetically rich language with a history spanning over 2,000 years, is at risk of extinction due to decades of neglect by the Government of Bangladesh. This language, along with its unique alphabetic system known as Nagri, is an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Sylhet region and its diaspora worldwide. Unfortunately, the Syloti language has faced significant adversity since 1947, when the region became part of East Pakistan and later Bangladesh.
Despite its historical significance and the millions of speakers who use it daily, the Syloti language has not been granted official recognition in Bangladesh, despite numerous appeals over decades. This lack of recognition has marginalized the language, threatening its survival and the cultural identity it represents. We urge the United Nations and UNESCO to use your influence to impress upon the Government of Bangladesh to take immediate steps to recognize Syloti as an official language and implement it as the primary language in schools, colleges, offices, and government and private institutions across the Sylhet Division.
Specifically, we request the following actions:
1. Recognition and Implementation of Syloti as an Official Language
The Government of Bangladesh must recognize Syloti as an official language and ensure its use as the primary medium of instruction in schools and colleges across the Sylhet Division until students reach the tertiary or university level, where English typically becomes the medium of education.
This step will safeguard the language and ensure its transmission to future generations, preserving its unique phonetic and cultural richness.
2. Preservation of Syloti Language and Nagri Script
We call upon UNESCO to release funds for the preservation of historic Syloti texts in both digital and print formats.
Establish museums dedicated to the Syloti language and its alphabetic system, Nagri, in all Zilas (districts) of the Sylhet Division, as well as in the UK and USA, where a significant portion of the Syloti diaspora resides.
3. Recognition of Syloti in India
We also urge the United Nations and UNESCO to impress upon the Government of India to recognize Syloti as one of its official languages, akin to Bangla, Tamil, and Urdu. This recognition would honor the linguistic diversity of India and acknowledge the contributions of the Syloti-speaking community in the region.
4. Funded Initiatives for Language Education
Support initiatives to teach the Syloti Nagri alphabetic system to young and adult learners who were unable to learn their native language due to the imposition of Bangla in schools, colleges, and various institutions since 1874 and notably after 1947.
5. Support for Upazila-Level Institutions
Support Upazila-level institutions dedicated to teaching, researching, and propagating the Syloti language across the Sylhet Division and among the Syloti diaspora worldwide.
6. Promotion of Syloti Literature and Media
Allocate funding to promote and encourage the writing of books, newspapers, journals, and educational materials in the Syloti language using the Nagri alphabet. This will help revitalize the language and integrate it into daily life.
7. Establishment of Syloti-Speaking TV and Radio Channels
We urge the UN and UNESCO to support the initiative to launch Syloti-speaking TV and radio channels in all Zilas of the Sylhet Division, including government and privately funded terrestrial channels. A few channels should also be established in the UK and USA, where significant Syloti diaspora populations reside. Such media platforms will play a crucial role in promoting the language, preserving its cultural heritage, and ensuring its accessibility to future generations.
The Syloti language and its alphabetic system, Nagri, are not merely linguistic tools but vessels of a rich cultural heritage that has endured for millennia. Failure to act now risks the irreversible loss of this heritage, and future generations will hold us accountable for our inaction.
If the effort to preserve and promote the Syloti language is not supported by the UN and UNESCO, especially on occasions like International Mother Language Day, it will be perceived as a bias against linguistic diversity. The Syloti language, like all mother tongues, deserves equal recognition and protection. We implore you to take immediate action to save our mother language from extinction and uphold the principles of linguistic diversity and cultural preservation that the United Nations and UNESCO champion.
On behalf of the Syloti community and its global diaspora, I call upon you to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the survival and flourishing of the Syloti language. By doing so, you will not only preserve a unique cultural treasure but also uphold the principles of linguistic diversity and cultural preservation that the United Nations and UNESCO stand for.
We look forward to your prompt response and action on this critical matter.
Yours sincerely,
Tanvir Morshed
Educator and Architect
Advocate for the Advancement of the Syloti Community and Diaspora Worldwide
