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Ahmadul Kobir, Malaysia: Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury has pledged the Bangladesh High Commission’s full support for expanding initiatives to promote Bangla language, culture and heritage among younger generations of expatriate Bangladeshis.
Praising the activities of the Arts, Culture and Language Programme (ACLP), he described the initiative as timely and beneficial to the Bangladeshi diaspora, particularly children and teenagers growing up outside Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner gave the assurance during a meeting with representatives of the Malaysia Bangladesh Forum Association (MBFA) and ACLP on Friday, October 23.
During the courtesy call, the representatives briefed him on ACLP’s activities over the past four months, achievements, existing challenges, parents’ expectations and plans for future expansion.
The meeting was attended by the High Commission’s Minister (Labour), Siddiqur Rahman; Consular Officer Firoz Rabbani; and First Secretary (Political) Falguni Bagchi.
MBFA President Professor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam, General Secretary Md Ruhul Amin Sarkar, Member Welfare Officer and ACLP Convener Mahfuz Kaisar Opu, ACLP Joint Convener Mushfiq Ahmed Chowdhury, and MBFA Public Relations Officer Farhad Hossain also attended the meeting.
The representatives submitted an analytical report outlining the programme’s activities, achievements, challenges and future plans.
ACLP officially launched its activities on June 7, 2026, in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur, with the primary objective of helping Bangladeshi children and teenagers living abroad learn their mother tongue, national culture, heritage and values while strengthening their emotional and cultural ties with Bangladesh.
Initially, the programme introduced Bangla language classes, Quranic education, drawing, dance and music for children and teenagers. It has since expanded its scope to address the broader educational and professional needs of the Bangladeshi community in Malaysia.
As part of this expansion, ACLP has introduced Malay language courses to help Bangladeshis improve their communication skills and overcome language barriers in everyday life and at work.
The programme has also launched research methodology training for students and researchers pursuing higher education. The initiative aims to help master’s, MPhil and PhD students develop skills in research methods, academic writing, reference management and scholarly publishing.
Responding to demand for religious education among adults, ACLP has also introduced classes focusing on correct pronunciation, Tajweed and fluent recitation of the Holy Quran.
During the meeting, the representatives highlighted expatriate Bangladeshi parents’ long-standing aspiration to establish an MBFA school in Malaysia.
They said such an institution could provide Bangladeshi children with opportunities to learn their mother tongue, culture, heritage and moral values alongside their formal education. It could also help familiarise younger generations with Bangladesh’s history, national identity and cultural roots.
Children born and raised abroad often have limited opportunities to use Bangla in their daily lives. The representatives stressed the need to expand language education, cultural activities and other educational initiatives to ensure that younger generations remain connected to Bangladesh.
Praising ACLP’s initiatives, the High Commissioner said keeping expatriate Bangladeshi children connected to the Bangla language, culture and national identity was particularly important.
He also observed that extending the programme to adult education and professional skills development could make a meaningful contribution to the wider expatriate community.
The High Commissioner assured the organisers that the Bangladesh High Commission would extend the necessary cooperation to ensure the programme’s smooth and sustainable operation, broaden its reach and bring educational services to more Bangladeshis living in Malaysia.
The meeting also underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among stakeholders to sustain the programme’s progress, overcome existing challenges and implement its future plans.
At the conclusion of the meeting, MBFA and ACLP representatives thanked the High Commissioner for his encouragement, guidance and assurance of support.
They expressed hope that continued cooperation from the High Commission and other stakeholders would help ACLP develop into an effective platform for promoting Bangla language and cultural education, alongside educational and professional skills development, among Bangladeshis living in Malaysia.
