Sylheti nationalism

Sylheti nationalism (Sylheti: ꠍꠤꠟꠐꠤ ꠎꠣꠔꠤꠅꠔꠣꠛꠣꠖ, pronounced [sílɔʈi zat̪i̯ɔt̪abad̪]) is a cultural and social movement to assert an exclusive Sylheti identity rooted in the language, history and culture of Sylhet. Sylheti nationalism has developed in different forms over time under British colonial rule and in East Pakistan, in independent Bangladesh, among Sylhetis in India and among diaspora communities in the West. The primary objective of the Sylheti nationalists is to be recognized and preserve the Sylheti culture and language. They claim that Sylheti is not a dialect of Bengali but its own language. The Sylheti language is undergoing a revival in Greater Sylhet and the diaspora, bringing with it great symbolic significance. For example, it was featured in a 2017 exhibition and workshop held in Tower Hamlets (London, UK) titled "Bangla is not my mother tongue" by the visual artist and spatial designer Osmani Saif.

The Silchar-Sylhet Festival, also known as The Indo-Bangladesh Festival is one meant to bring the Sylheti communities divided by the Partition of 1947 back together. The festival aims at bringing celebrations of Sylheti culture by staging local art, cuisine and handicrafts as well as discussion of cross-border ties between India and Bangladesh. Emphasizing the importance of linking various cultures and establishing new relationships between the cities of Silchar and Sylhet, the festival is both a cultural and diplomatic event. Dignitaries from both countries are likely to participate in the festival, again emphasizing the importance of the event in strengthening bilateral ties.