Bangla (or Bengali) is the official language of Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. It is also spoken in parts of a few other states in India and in sizeable Bangla communities in Australia, Europe, North America, the Middle East and South East Asia. The number of Bangla speaking people in the world now approaches 220 million, as a result of which it is now recognized by the United Nations as the language of the fifth largest group of humanity. Bangla became the official language of Bangladesh in 1972 when the nation won its independence from Pakistan after a (very) bloody war. At the root of this independence struggle lay the love for this language, which was demonstrated by another bloody event on 21st February, 1952. In a fitting way, the United Nations has now adopted this date, the 21st February, to mark the International Mother Language Day.

Bangla is a language which dates back far (back) in history. Its roots lie firmly intertwined with Sanskrit. In fact, it is without doubt the most developed of the languages originating from Sanskrit. The literary works of one Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore, was rewarded with a Nobel prize as far back as in 1913, when he became the first recipient of the prize outside Europe and North America. Since then, many (of the) writings, movies, and paintings based on Bangla language and culture have (regularly) won international acclaim. A good number of Bangla film directors' movies won (many best film) awards in film festivals such as at Cannes. Satyajit Ray, one of the most well known of them, received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievements from the American Motion Pictures Association in 1999, and all of his works were entirely in Bangla! These are only a few examples of the many Bangla artists whose works have reached international standards.

Bangla is taught in many parts of the world in the higher secondary level. (For example,) In Great Britain, it is offered in both GCE O- and A- levels as an ethnic second language. It is also available as a second language in the High School curriculum in Singapore. Bangla has been available as a LOTE subject in Victoria, Australia, since 1993. Some of the current committee members of the Bangla Prosar Committee were involved in getting Bangla approved as a LOTE subject in Victoria in 1992.