Languages of Bangladesh

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Bangladesh’s language map centers on Bengali (Bangla). Bengali is the national and official language, spoken as a first language by about 99% of people. The 1987 Bengali Language Implementation Act requires Bengali to be used in government work, with some exceptions for foreign relations.

English has a long history from colonial times and is still widely learned. It’s taught in schools and used in higher education, business, and some legal contexts. Most new laws are written in Bengali, but older laws and many forms in government use English.

Bangladesh also has many indigenous languages. Ethnologue lists 36 indigenous languages (17 Tibeto-Burman, 10 Indo-Aryan, 7 Austroasiatic, 2 Dravidian); some scholars say there are as many as 44. These languages are mostly spoken in the hills and border areas and exist alongside Bengali.

Arabic has deep religious importance for Muslims in Bangladesh. It is the language of prayer and religious study, and Arabic words appear in Bengali. Persian has a long historical influence on Bengali literature and culture, and some Persian study continues today. The term Dobhashi describes Bengali writing with Persian influence.

Urdu was an official language during 1947–1971 and is still spoken by some communities, especially older residents in places like Old Dhaka.

In short, Bengali sits at the center of Bangladesh’s language scene, surrounded by a rich mix of indigenous and historic languages that contribute to the country’s linguistic diversity.