Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan
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- Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| জাতীয় বাংলা সম্মেলন | |
 | |
 | |
| Formation | 9 December 2019 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Siddhabrata Das, Anirban Bandyopadhyay |
| Type | Socio-political organisation |
| Location |
|
Official language | Bengali |
Working President | Anirban Bandyopadhyay |
Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan (Bengali: জাতীয় বাংলা সম্মেলন; lit. National Bengali Conference) is a socio-cultural and linguistic organisation based in West Bengal, India. It was founded in December 2019 by dissident members of the Bengali rights group Bangla Pokkho, with a vision to promote linguistic democracy, secular civic nationalism, and cultural inclusivity.
Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan was launched on 9 December 2019 at the Kolkata Press Club.[1] Former Bangla Pokkho leaders including Siddhabrata Das and Anirban Bandyopadhyay established the group after being expelled from the parent organisation. The founders cited ideological differences, especially related to sectarian influences in Bangla Pokkho's approach.
According to Anirban Bandyopadhyay, the Sammelan seeks to resist the growth of "Hindutvavadi Bònggali" politics and focus on inclusive, people-centric campaigns grounded in Bengali linguistic rights.[2]
Ideology
The group's founding charter includes 40 key points advocating:
- Use of Bengali as the primary language in banks, railways, courts, and postal services in West Bengal.
- Bengali-medium education and compulsory use of Bengali in signage.
- Resistance to CAA-NRC policies.
- Unity among linguistic and cultural minorities in the eastern region of India.
Leadership
The initial leadership included:
- Anirban Bandyopadhyay – Working President
- Tanny Das – Working Vice President
- Siddhabrata Das – Working General Secretary
Activities
Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan has undertaken:
- Deputations to the Postal Department and nationalised banks for enforcing Bengali signage and service.[3]
- District and rural conferences raising awareness about linguistic rights and environmental justice.
- Protests and social campaigns against NRC and CAA.[4]
- Participation in civil society meetings, cultural events, and solidarity programs with other marginalised language communities.[5]
Logo and Flag
The organisation uses a blue-and-white logo featuring the Bengali letter "Ja" (জ) stylised as a cultural symbol. The flag typically displays:
- A white background
- The logo at the centre
- A blue border representing peace and regional unity
Position in Bengali Language Movement
Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan aligns itself with:
- The legacy of the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
- The 1961 Barak Valley movement in Assam
- Contemporary Bengali rights advocacy in West Bengal and Tripura
Relationship with Bangla Pokkho
The split was seen as both ideological and structural. While Bangla Pokkho was known for aggressive campaigns, the Sammelan framed itself as a civic-focused, secular alternative. Media reports highlighted this internal split as indicative of broader ideological fissures in Bengali subnationalism.[2]