In commemoration of International Mother Language Day, an event entitled “Ethnic Mother Language Exchange in Arakan State” was held in Sittwe on February 21, with students from Sittwe University helping to organise the festivities.

“Today is International Mother Language Day. The purpose of this event is to showcase the languages of nine ethnic tribes living in Arakan State,”  said Ma Hsaung Hnin Wai, who attended the event representing Kaman ethnic people.

More than 100 Arakanese, Khami, Daingnet, Mro, Thet, Maramargyi, Hindu and Muslim people living in Arakan State participated in Tuesday’s language exchange event.

Ko Zaw Min Tun, a Muslim university student who attended the event, said: “As the ethnic groups in Arakan State, we need to encourage everyone to be united and love each other. To be able to live in harmony depends a lot on the youth. That’s why I want to urge youths to do a lot of talking, which will bring harmony among the people living in Arakan State.”

In 1999, February 21 was designated as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency.