* The most commonly cited figure is around 265 million speakers, making Bengali the seventh most spoken language in the world.
* However, other sources place the number closer to 300 million, especially when accounting for those who speak it as a second language.
Here's why getting an accurate count is challenging:
* Language boundaries are fluid: Some dialects might be considered separate languages by some, while others consider them part of the Bengali language family.
* Data collection is complex: Accurately counting speakers in regions with diverse languages can be difficult, especially in places where official statistics aren't readily available.
* Migration and globalization: Bengali is spoken across many countries, making it difficult to track how many speakers reside in each location.
Therefore, it's safe to say that over 250 million people speak Bengali globally, but the exact number is still subject to debate and ongoing research.