Petition seeks recognition of English as second language

A Supreme Court lawyer yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court, seeking its directive on the government to take all necessary steps to recognise and declare English as the second official language of Bangladesh.

Barrister Moksadul Islam submitted the petition as a public interest litigation, saying, “…our constitution recognizes English as the only other language besides Bangla, hence it should be declared as the second language of Bangladesh”.

For that, undoubtedly English is the de facto second official language of Bangladesh and all the organs of the state such as legislative, judiciary and administrative are using English almost every day and therefore, now it requires official sanction, he said in the petition.

The lawyer said the government by their conduct has accepted English as second language. It uses the language for international communications and signing of foreign treaties, memorandums of understanding, inviting foreign contracts etc, he said.

“...higher education demands that English be given official sanction. By recognizing English as our second official language, we can stop brain drain from this country and give recognition to millions of students who are pursuing their education in English medium under different curriculum,” he said in the petition.

All the education boards use English as a de facto second language, the lawyer said, adding that digital Bangladesh demands English be given its proper status as the second official language.

The HC is likely to hold hearing on the writ petition on Sunday, Moksadul Islam told The Daily Star.