Staff Reporter::The Inter-School Bangla Olympiad was held in grand style with the participation of a large number of students from English medium and English version schools on Saturday. 

The competition related to Bengali language with the participation of English medium and English version schools of the country is organized by International Hope School Bangladesh located in Uttara of the capital in the month of language.

A total of 1630 students from 120 branches of 85 schools across the country participated in the various events while the prize giving ceremony will be held on March 2.

At the beginning of the programme, Shimul Mustafa recited poems and gave a speech while Roksana Zarin,  Principal of International Hope School Bangladesh delivered welcome speech.
 
During the day-long programme, the contestants participated in various age-wise categories in essay writing, recitation, dance, song, drawing, quiz and extempore speech.

This year, like other times, the advisors and judges of this competition are eminent educators-writers-artists of the country.

National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Soumitra Shekhar, and Director General of the International Mother Language Institute Dr. Hakim Arif.

Competitions are held in seven groups of several categories – Essay, Recitation, Music, Painting, Extempore Speech, Dance and Bengali Quiz.

Roksana Zarin, Principal of International Hope School Bangladesh said, "International Hope School Bangladesh is happy and proud to organize this Bengali language practice competition every year. We are very happy to have successfully organized this competition for more than a century.

"We think that our school is playing an important role in Bengali language and culture by organizing such a big competition for more than a century. In the meantime, Bengali Olympiad has become a national competition of English schools. Not only nationally, I would say, Bengali Olympiad is spreading in the international arena as well," she added 

She also said through this competition, English medium and English version schools of the country pay tribute to language martyrs during the month of language. 

Kamrul Ahsan, Coordinator of Bangla Olympiad said, "Bangla Olympiad is the most significant event of the country in the month of language, February. The Bengali Olympiad organized for more than a century has changed the life and perspective of English medium students of the country.

"The fear and aversion they had towards the Bengali language and culture has been overcome by the Bangla Olympiad. Now the big schools of the country wait for our Bengali Olympiad all year round," he added 

He also informed that  the participation of students is more in number than before and spontaneous this time 

The online registration of Bengali Olympiad started from December 10 and continuesd till February 14.

International Hope School Bangladesh which was established in 1996 is organising the inter-school Bangla Olympiad for the last 13 years.

Biniyougbarta/SAM//