Third International Mother Language Journalism Conference Concludes in Kathmandu

Image: Collected

The four-day Third International Mother Language Journalism Conference 2026 concluded in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on August 12, bringing together journalists, media professionals and researchers from 30 countries.

Held from August 9 to 12, the conference focused on the development of mother language-based journalism, preservation of languages and cultures, and the representation of indigenous and local communities in the media.

The conference was organised by the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ), with overall support from the SAARC Journalists Forum (SJF).

Journalists, media professionals and researchers involved in mother language-based journalism from different countries participated in the event, including a delegation from the Bangladesh chapter of the SAARC Journalists Forum.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Daily Ajkal Special Correspondent Md Ziaur Rahman. Other members included Daily Bangabani Editor Mushtaq Ahmed Mubarki, Daily Bank Bima Arthaniti Editor Mohammad Muniruzzaman, Daily Ajker Probhat Senior Correspondent Md Abu Bakar Siddiq, Daily Amar Bangla Executive Editor Panna Zaman, Channel-S Television Online’s Shahnaz Begum and Asian TV Reporter Irfan Uddin Iro.

Also attending from Bangladesh was SAARC Journalists Forum Central Committee Secretary General and The Bangladesh Post Senior Correspondent Md Abdur Rahman. Three lecturers from the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology—Coordinator Zubayer Ahmed, Keya Bose and Farhad Alam—also participated in the conference.

During the four-day event, participants discussed the importance of delivering news in mother languages, the current state and future prospects of mother language-based journalism, preservation of indigenous languages and cultures, and proper representation of indigenous and local communities in the media.

Speakers said mother language-based journalism can play an important role in preserving the languages, history, traditions and cultures of different linguistic communities around the world. They stressed the need to expand opportunities for delivering news and information in local languages, particularly to help preserve the languages and cultures of indigenous and local communities.

Participating journalists and researchers also emphasised strengthening the role of the media in promoting mother language-based journalism, protecting linguistic diversity, and safeguarding the rights and cultural heritage of different linguistic communities.

Organisers said the international conference created opportunities for journalists and researchers from different countries to exchange experiences while opening new avenues for the development of mother language-based journalism and greater mutual cooperation.