“Babu” English

The interview piece on Babu English by Ahmede Hussain on Bangladeshi writer in English Tabish Khair (DS Star Weekend Magazine, 14- 3- 08) was interesting, but ticklish for the lay readers. The questions were of intellectual level; but it is encouraging to note that Bangladeshi writers are appearing in the world of global English (latest T Aman).
As a school and university product of the Raj era, it is disappointing to note that our Bangladeshi generations are weak in practical English, to feet at ease as global citizens: unlike the post-Raj Indians who have English as practically a second language for daily use, it also explains (partly) the rising popularity of English-medium schools in Bangladesh. Another point to note is that our huge unskilled labour personnel are sent abroad for jobs without proper basic background orientation (latest news-- the government is looking into this issue). It is sad to watch that many signboards in Dhaka city display basic mistakes in English grammar and composition, The tutorial centres are doing booming business; but the authorities feel rather shy of looking at English as a global language. You must be at least bilingual (excluding the classical languages) in this global village; and cannot ignore the importance of English as an international language-- it adversely affects the potentialities of our HR. The national language and patriotism are different and separate issues.