INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY US POSTAGE STAMP

From the Desk of:
SAIFUR RAHMAN OSMANI (JEETU)
Los Angeles, California, USA.
E-mail: osmani@aol.com


INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY was introduced by the UNESCO in recognition of the sanctity and preservation of all vernacular languages in the world. On 21st February almost 200 countries and over 6000 different language spoken people observe ‘International Mother Language Day’. The event began being observed from 21 February 2000 throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this date in Dhaka in 1952. The background to the proclamation of the 'International Mother Language Day' was a proposal from Bangladesh at the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on 17 November 1999 to declare 21 February as an international day on the ground that on this day many had sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue. It was argued that, since the languages of the world are at the very heart of UNESCO's objectives and since they are the most powerful instruments for preserving and developing the tangible and intangible heritage of nations and nationalities, the recognition of this day would serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop a fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire international solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

CAN WE SELL ONE MILLION STAMPS?
Do you know one 'International Mother Language Day' stamps when you order online could also count as ‘ONE VOTE’ in favor of 'International Mother Language Day' stamps for the “Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee” review board? This will help us to be considered by the “Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee” review board for issuance of 'International Mother Language Day' stamps from all United States local post offices.

The good news is recently, we've received an acknowledgment letter from the United States Postal Service (USPS) about our submitted application for the issuance of 'International Mother Language Day' stamp. The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee will review our application and make recommendation for the new stamps to the Postmaster General. The Committee members base their recommendations on national interest, historical perspective, and other criteria. We believe ‘International Mother Language Day' stamps have the absolute international acceptability in favor of issuance of the stamps in United States.

Do you know how the “EID’ postage stamp first launched in USA? Behind the story of EID stamps as I can recall: EID stamp was inaugurated 1st September 2001 at ISNA conference in Chicago. That time USPS said, if one million EID stamp purchased during “Eid-ul-Fitter’ ‘Eid-ul-Azha’ than USPS will carry every year EID stamps. Guess what? The American Muslims took it as a challenge and purchased over 7 million stamps in USA between 2001-2002. We have to go through the same path and need support from citizens of all countries of the world. This is the beginning of our journey and we have to have at least one million votes required in favor of 'International Mother Language Day' stamps.

What Is the difference between Regular Postage and PC Postage stamps?
The only difference between regular stamps vs. PC postage is: Regular stamps can be purchased both online and from any local post office. PC postage is available to order only from online and pay little extra amount for customized domestic or international postal stamps. The USPS (United States Postal Service) allows 3rd parties to sell online postage. Both stamps have the same domestic & international ‘first class mail’ status, 100% genuine legal US postal stamp. If PC postage stamp is not legal or not approved by the USPS, the US mailman will not certainly deliver or carry the letters/packages for postal delivery. PC postage was first launched in 1999 and people normally using for fun, personal photo, promotion etc.

It was unknown to all of us almost 9 years until revealed at the press conference in Los Angeles on January 31st, 2008. In that press conference the official inauguration of our dream stamp 'International Mother Language Day’ was announced in front of the Los Angeles press media. For the first time in the history of USA a sample copy of 42 cents of 'International Mother Language Day' postage stamp designed with the picture of Dhaka Central 'Saheed Minar’ was also shown in front of the press media in Los Angeles. At the press conference the media personals also received sample copies of original 42 cents of “International Language Day" stamps. All major newspapers and TV channels especially in Bangladesh cover the story about the release of US 42 cents 'International Mother Language Day' stamps in USA. In Bangladesh and our local USA 'Bangla' newspapers also broke the news with front page coverage.

The idea of releasing the stamp through www.zazzle.com/stamp21 for the following reasons:
1. For the immediate release of 42 cents 'International Mother Language Day' stamps in USA during the month of February with the picture of Dhaka Central Shaheed Minar. It was a Jump start by writing an application to the “Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee” review board for issuance of 'International Mother Language Day' stamps from all United States local post offices.

2. Awareness Campaign : One 'International Mother Language Day' stamps could count as ‘ONE VOTE’ in favor of 'International Mother Language Day' stamps for the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee board to be considered at the decision making process. It’s like replacement of getting individual signature campaign in favor of the stamps.

2. To use the 'International Mother Language Day' postage stamp for our daily postal mailing purposes in USA we believe 'International Mother Language Day' stamp will certainly create an awareness about the language movements in Bangladesh. Specially for the American people and the other nationalities in USA get to know the importance of what is 'International Mother Language Day' behind the scene of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on 21st February in Dhaka 1952? Less than 1% Americans doesn't know what is 'International Mother Language Day'.

3. We've taken the first step to one step closer for the 'Citizen Advisory Committee' to approve the stamp, if we can able to get at least 1 million votes in order to issuance of the stamps from the local post office distribution.

BANGLADESH IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE MARTYRS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR THE DEMAND OF MOTHER TONGUE.

Zazzle.com is an approved USPS licensed vendor to release customized PC postage. We have taken Zazzle Company as a vehicle to sell the stamps legally and each stamps could considered as one single vote in favor of the stamps. As I said before it’s like having million signature drives to support the stamps. Please tell your friends and family to use the 'International Mother Language Day ' stamps as their day to day postal need. It is true you're paying very little extra amount from the face value of the original 42 cents of stamp? Generally speaking, any kinds of custom made products we always pay extra amount. For a good and noble cause does it really matter to spend little extra? Personally, I don't believe anyone especially from our community doesn't want to support for the issuance of 'International Mother Language Day ' postage stamp in USA with the 'Shaheed Minar' picture on it. We didn't have any other choices to release the 'Ekushy' stamps overnight other than USPS approved PC postage vendors. We need your support whatever you can.

How You Can Help:
1. Tell your friends and families to use the stamps for regular postal needs.
2. Use the stamps for business mailing, invitations, day to day postal needs etc.
3. Send web link, e-mail attachments, homepage link etc.

I would like to request all of you to give your feed back or any comments in this matter. Please also send the web link to your friends and family to accomplish our goal. Our goal where is to find a permanent address for "INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY" postal stamps at the local US post office. A portion of the benefit will be donated to the martyr’s family who sacrificed their lives in 1952.