Narinjara News, 21 February 2022

The United League of Arakan (ULA) on the occasion of International Mother language  Day on Monday emphasized on bolstering a better futurewith Bangladesh.

In a media release titled ‘Statement of Solidarity’ the ULA mentioned that itis an occasion for us too  to commemoratethe diversity of languages and cultures that the Mother World has embraced.

Mentioning that 21 February 2022 is the 23rd InternationalDay of Mother Language, recognizedby UNESCO, the ULA/AA has taken the opportunityto congratulate all people of the world on their mother tongue languages.

Mentionable is that the ULA is a political body of the Arakan Army and remain keen inimproving ties with Bangladesh. It isone of the most active armed groups in Myanmar (Burma), which is fighting the Union government for theirself-determination and sovereignty.

The ULA  statement in the beginning  paid tributesto the heroes and language,numerous martyrs who died fighting for the recognition of Bengali as the official language intheir land during the 1971 BangladeshWar of Independence against the then west Pakistan regime.

Furthermore, the statement added, under the charismaticleadership of Sheikh MujiburRahman, founding father of Bangladesh, the people of Bangladesh were able to achieve their priceless and invaluable sovereignty and independence in 1971which is also the primal foundationfor maintaining the political and cultural identity of a nation.

The ULA statement also  mentioned about the historicalties between the Bengalis and theArakanese people.

“Our forefathers from the lands of Bengal and Arakan stoveto have their respectivecivilizations thrive on the Bay of Bengal and on the bank  Naff river. They constitute the natural bond betweenthe people and regions ofBangladesh and Arakan.  We deeply regard that both of our societies are historically andculturally interlinked. The Arakanesecommunity is a part of the Bengali nation, and in the same way the Bengali community is a part ofour Arakan nation. Since both territoriesare comprised of our brothers and sisters, we firmly believe that it is our responsibility to serve both of ourpeople for the best,” said thestatement.

In the concluding paragraph, it expressed pleasure in sending the statement  on behalf ofthe Rakhine people and wished tofurther enhance future relations with Bangladesh.

“Sending this statement of solidarity on this day on behalfof the Arakan people is an honourfor us. We profoundly believe that the restitutionof Arakan sovereignty to our people is the ultimate aim of our national liberation movement andthe right to our mother tongue languageis also a part of that. We desireto bolster a better future betweenour nations & regions in terms of military, economic, culture and diplomatic relations.

It concluded saying, “Good neighbours shall be good friends. May Bangladesh live forever!”