) , altname = Manipuri language in Bangladesh
( ) , nativename = Meiteilon/Manipuri lon , acceptance = , image = Meitei language.svg , imagescale = , imagealt = , imagecaption = written in

Meitei script ) , altname = , type = Abugida , languages = Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri language) , region = * Manipur , sample = "Meitei Mayek" (literally meaning "Meitei script" in Meitei language) written ...

and

Bengali script Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

, pronunciation = , states = *

Sylhet District Sylhet ( bn, সিলেট), located in north-east Bangladesh, is the divisional capital and one of the four districts in the Sylhet Division. History Sylhet district was established on 3 January 1782, and until 1878 it was part of Bengal Pro ...

Moulvibazar District Moulvibazar ( bn, মৌলভীবাজার) also spelled Maulvibazar, Moulavibazar, and Maulavibazar, (former South Sylhet) is the southeastern district of Sylhet Division in northeastern Bangladesh, named after the town of Moulvibazar. It i ...

Sunamganj District Sunamganj ( bn, সুনামগঞ্জ) is a district located in north-eastern Bangladesh within the Sylhet Division. History In the ancient period, Sunamganj was part of the Laur Kingdom. After the conquest of Sylhet (Kingdom of Gauiurh) ...

Habiganj District Habiganj ( bn, হবিগঞ্জ, Hobigonj), formerly known as Habibganj ( bn, হবিবগঞ্জ, Hobibgonj), is a district in north-eastern Bangladesh, located in the Sylhet Division. It was established as a district in 1984 as a succe ...

, region =

Sylhet Division Sylhet Division ( bn, সিলেট বিভাগ) is the northeastern division of Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura to the north, east and south respectively, and by the Bangladeshi divisions of ...

, creator = , created = , setting = , ethnicity =

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

, era = , speakers = 15,000 , date = , dateprefix = , ref = , refname = , speakers2 = , revived = , revived-category = , familycolor = Sino-Tibetan , family = Sino-Tibetan , fam1 =

Sino-Tibetan Sino-Tibetan, also cited as Trans-Himalayan in a few sources, is a family of more than 400 languages, second only to Indo-European in number of native speakers. The vast majority of these are the 1.3 billion native speakers of Chinese languages. ...

, fam2 =

Tibeto-Burman The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non- Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people spea ...

, fam3 = Central Tibeto-Burman , protoname = , ancestor = , ancestor2 =

proto-Sino-Tibetan Proto-Sino-Tibetan (PST) is the reconstructed proto-language of the Sino-Tibetan language family and the common ancestor of all languages in it, most prominently the Chinese languages, the Tibetan language, Yi, Bai, Burmese, Karen, Tangut, a ...

, ancestor3 =

proto-Tibeto-Burman Proto-Tibeto-Burman (commonly abbreviated PTB) is the reconstructed ancestor of the Tibeto-Burman languages, that is, the Sino-Tibetan languages, except for Chinese. An initial reconstruction was produced by Paul K. Benedict and since refined by ...

, ancestor4 = ancient Meitei , standards = Standard Meitei (Standard Manipuri) , stand1 = , stand2 = , dialects = , listclass = , dia1 = , dia2 = , script =

and

, sign = , posteriori = , minority = , agency = , development_body = * Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh * Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad * Manipur Cultural Complex, Bangladesh * Manipuri Muslim Samaj Kalyan Parishad * Bangladesh Manipuri Muslim Education Trust , iso1 = , iso1comment = , iso2 = mni , iso2b = , iso2t = , iso2comment = , iso3 = mni , iso3comment = , lc1 = , ld1 = , lc2 = , ld2 = , iso6 = , isoexception = , linglist = , lingname = , linglist2 = , lingname2 = , glotto = , glottorefname = , glotto2 = , glottorefname2 = , aiatsis = , aiatsisname = , aiatsis2 = , aiatsisname2 = , guthrie = , ELP = , ELPname = , ELP2 = , ELPname2 = , glottopedia = , lingua = , lingua_ref = , ietf = , map = , mapscale = , mapalt = , mapcaption = , map2 = , mapalt2 = , mapcaption2 = , pushpin_map = , pushpin_image = , pushpin_map_alt = , pushpin_map_caption = , pushpin_mapsize = , pushpin_label = , pushpin_label_position = , coordinates = , module = , notice = IPA The

Meitei language Meitei (), also known as Manipuri (, ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of north-eastern India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in pa ...

( mni, /, Meitei Lon), or Manipuri language ( mni, /, Manipuri Lon), is a minority language in Bangladesh. It is spoken by around 15,000 ethnic Manipuris, mainly concentrated in the

. The Meitei language is also a

second language A person's second language, or L2, is a language that is not the native language (first language or L1) of the speaker, but is learned later. A second language may be a neighbouring language, another language of the speaker's home country, or a fo ...

for Bishnupriyas in Bangladesh. Due to a shrinking population, many Manipuris in

Sylhet Sylhet ( bn, সিলেট) is a metropolitan city in northeastern Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat of the Sylhet Division. Located on the north bank of the Surma River at the eastern tip of Bengal, Sylhet has a subtropical climate an ...

do not speak the Meitei language fluently, as they make more use of the majority

Bengali language Bengali ( ), generally known by its endonym Bangla (, ), is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Bengal region of South Asia. It is the official, national, and most widely spoken language of Bangladesh and the second m ...

, and may speak with a Bangladeshi accent. Manipuri Cultural Complex

Associations and organizations including the Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad, and the Manipur Cultural Complex work for the development of the Manipuri language, literature, and culture in Bangladesh.

Intelligibility with Indian Meitei

Regarding the similarities and differences between the Bangladeshi Meitei language and Indian Meitei language,

Ethnologue ''Ethnologue: Languages of the World'' (stylized as ''Ethnoloɠue'') is an annual reference publication in print and online that provides statistics and other information on the living languages of the world. It is the world's most comprehensiv ...

says the following:

Geographical distribution

The population of Meitei speakers (

Manipuris The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

) are found in four districts, namely

and

of the

of Bangladesh. In early times, there were Meitei speaking population in

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...

Mymensingh Mymensingh ( bn, ময়মনসিংহ) is the capital of Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh. Located on the bank of Brahmaputra River, about north of the national capital Dhaka, it is a major financial center and educational hub of north ...

and

Comilla Comilla (; bn, কুমিল্লা, Kumillā, ), officially spelled Cumilla, is the fifth largest city of Bangladesh and second largest in Chittagong division. It is the administrative centre of the Comilla District. The name Comilla was ...

also.

Sylhet district

There are thirteen villages in

, which are Amborkhana (Nongthombam Leikai in Meitei language), Nayabazar, Shibgonj, Goaipara, Kewapara, Sagordighirpar (Pukhri Mapan in Meitei language), Baghbari, Laladighipar (Sapam Leikai in Meitei language), Lamabazar (Leichom Leikai in Meitei language), Doxingach, Rajbari (Konung Leikai in Meitei language), Brojonath Tila (Meitei people refer to it as Brajanath Leikai but earlier it was known as Narasingh Tila) and Noyabazar (Sylhet P.S.) among others.

Mouluvibazar district

has twenty-eight Meitei populated settlements, which are Photiguli, Goalbari, Naldhari, Boroiloli (Kulaura P.S.), Ramnagar, Khaspur, Balishira (Shrimongol P.S.), Gouranagar, Puthadhor, Chotodhamai, Patharia, Gourangabil (Borolekha P.S.), Madhobpur, Chaiciri (Nongthombam Leikai in Meitei language), Homerjan, Majhergaon, Shangaon (Hamom Khul in Meitei language), Haqtiarkhola, Shripiire, Bhandarigaon, Chitlia, Noyapattan, Ganganagar, Bhanubil, Katabil Tateygaon (Mange Makhong Khul in Meitei language), Mongolpur (Haobam Leikai in Meitei language), Konagoan (Kamalgonj P.S.), among others.

Habiganj district

Habigonj District (Chunarghat P.S.) had four Meitei settlement areas, which are Gaborkhula, Abadgaon, Shibnagar and Dudhpatil.

Sunamganj district

Sunamgonj District (Chatak P.S.) has three Meitei populated settlements, which are Nayanpur, Lakhat and Ratanpur.

Meitei language festival

The Manipuri language festival ( mni, or , ''Manipuri Lon-gi Kummei''), ( bn, , Manipuri Bhasha Utsav), is an annual cultural event that aims to the protect and develop the

, Meitei writing system, and

Meitei culture Meitei may refer to: *Meitei people, of Manipur, India **Meitei language **Meitei script **Meitei architecture *Denechandra Meitei (born 1994), Indian footballer *Loken Meitei (born 1997), Indian footballer *Ningombam Bupenda Meitei (born 1987), Ind ...

in Bangladesh. The event has been conducted by the Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad ( mni, or }) since 2008.

Manipuri Language Day

Manipuri language day ) , type = cultural , image = "Meitei Language Day" alias "Manipuri Language Day" written in Meitei script and Latin script.jpg , imagesize = 300px , caption = Meitei translation of "Meitei Language Day" written in M ...

( mni, /, Manipuri Lon-gi Numit), is celebrated on 20th of August, both Bangladesh and India,. In 2022, it was organised by the Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh at Manipuri Kangshang, Nayapatand in Bhanugharh in

, attended by the Indian delegates alongside the notable linguistic personalities of Bangladesh, including professor Amar Yumnam of

Manipur University Manipur University ( mni, Manipur Taibang Maheikol) is a central university located in Imphal, Manipur, India. It was established on 5 June 1980, under the ''Manipur University Act, 1980'' (Manipur Act 8 of 1980), as a teaching cum-affiliating ...

(MU), professor Dr Homen Thangjam of the

Indira Gandhi National Open University Indira Gandhi National Open University, known as IGNOU, is a Central University located at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 20& ...

(

IGNOU Indira Gandhi National Open University, known as IGNOU, is a Central University located at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 20& ...

), professor Jinen Laishramcha of the

University of Seoul The University of Seoul (UOS; ) is a municipal public university in Seoul, South Korea. UOS is famous in South Korea for a large number of alumni working as national or municipal government officials. UOS is specialized in urban science and has ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

and members of the Manipur Cultural Complex, Bangladesh and the Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh. The slogan for the event of the year 2022 was "Lets speak our mother tongue, write in our mother tongue, love our mother tongue."

International Manipuri Short Story Festival in Bangladesh

The International Manipuri Short Story Festival is a 3-day international linguistic event, jointly organised by the " Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad" ( mni, /}) of

and the "Manipuri Short Story Society" of India. In December 2022, it was organised at the Zilla Parishad conference hall in Sylhet, Bangladesh. On its first day, there was bestowing of "Sinam Tanubabu Memorial International Award 2022" to Mutum Ramani Devi, an Indian authoress from

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

, in recognition of her literary work named “Fongngamdraba Cheinakhol” ( mni, /}), which is an anthology of

short stories. AK Seram, a Bangladeshi author, received the ''"Lifetime Achievement Award of the Manipuri Short Story Society, India"'' ("Rajkumar Sitaljit Memorial Award"). In the event, 26 Indian writers (predominantly from

and

Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...

), alongside the numerous Bangladeshi writers, attended and presented their literary works in the symposium of the event.

Meitei cinema

In Dhaka international film festival

In the

Dhaka International Film Festival Dhaka International Film Festival ( bn, ঢাকা আন্তর্জাতিক চলচ্চিত্র উৎসব) is a biennial film festival held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1992, the festival was initially organized on a ...

2022, a Meitei language feature film

Pandam Amada ''Pandam Amada'' (English: ''In Pursuit Of'') is a 2019 Manipuri film directed by O. Gautam and produced by Sarokons. It stars Bonney Takhelmayum and Archana Konsam in the lead roles. The film was premiered at MSFDS on 8 September 2019. It was ...

( mni, /}), directed by an Indian National award winning filmmaker Oinam Gautam ( mni, /}), was premiered.

Indo-Bangladeshi Meitei language films

Bangladeshki Sana Tampha ( mni, /}) is the first Indo-Bangladeshi Meitei language film. Released in 2022, it portrays the life of the

in Bangladesh, starring Indian Meitei actors, including

Gurumayum Bonny Gurumayum Bonny Sharma is an Indian actor and singer who predominantly appears in Manipuri films. He is famous for movies 'Yaiskul Pakhang Angaoba', 'Beragee Bomb', 'Mr Khadang'. He is a resident of Keishamthong Maning Longjam Leikai, Imphal, ...

, Abenao Elangbam, among others.

In the Liberation Docfest Bangladesh

In the 8th Liberation Docfest Bangladesh 2020, a 52 minute documentary Meitei language film "Highways of Life", directed and written by Amar Maibam, won the "Best Film" award. It is the only Indian film & second from Asia to be selected from 1,800 films, against seven documentaries from Belgium, Slovenia, Germany, Argentina, UK, Italy and Iran, in the event.–
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Publications of books

Notes

References

External links

Meitei language in Bangladesh
at {{Authority control Social history of Bangladesh Linguistic history of Bangladesh Languages of Bangladesh Cultural history of Bangladesh Bangladesh–India relations