Bangla Academy

Bangla Academy ( _bn. বাংলা একাডেমী), established on 3 December 1955, is the national academy for promoting Bangla language in Bangladesh. The main office of the organisation is located at the Burdwan House on the campus of the University of Dhaka, beside Ramna Park.

History

The importance of establishing an organisation for Bengali language was first emphasized by the linguist Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah. cite book
last= Al-Helal
first= Bashir
title= "Bangla Academy'r Itihaas" ("History of Bangla Academy")
year= 1986
publisher= Bangla Academy
location= Dhaka, Bangladesh
language= Bengali] cite book
last= Mamun
first= Muntasir
title= "Dhaka: Smriti Bismritir Nogori"
origyear= 1993
origmonth= June
edition= 3rd edition, 4th printing
year= 2004
month= January
publisher= Ananya Publishers
location= Dhaka, Bangladesh
language= Bengali
isbn= 9844121043
pages=178-180] Later, following the Language movement, on April 27, 1952, the All Party National Language Committee decided to demand establishment of an organisation for the promotion of Bengali language.

During the 1954 parliamentary elections, the United Front's 21 point manifesto stated that, "The prime minister from the United Front will dedicate the Bardhaman House for establishing a research centre for Bengali language". Following the election success of the Front, the education minister Syed Azizul Haque placed the order to fulfill this promise.

In 1955, the Government formed a committee to expedite the process. The committee was composed of leading intellectuals like Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, Dr. Qazi Motahar Hossain, Dr. S.M. Bhattacharya, Dr. W. H. Shadani, and Muhammad Barkatullah. On December 3, 1955, the prime minister, Abu Hossain, inaugurated the Bangla Academy.

At first, Muhammad Barkatullah acted as the Special Officer in charge. Later, in 1956, Dr. Enamul Haque took over as the first director general. In 1957, an act of the parliament formally established the funding source and the Government support for the Academy.

The first book published by the academy was Laili Maznu, an epic by the medieval poet Daulat Ujir Bahram Khan, and edited by Prof. Ahmed Sharif. The first fellow of the academy was the poet Farrukh Ahmed.

Activities

The main task of the Academy is to conduct research on Bengali language, culture, history, and publish Bengali literary and research work. It has also established the Bangla Academy Award, given each year for contribution to Bengali language.

To commemorate the Language movement and the Language martyr's day, the Academy organises the month-long Ekushey Book Fair, the largest book fair in the country.

References

ee also

*Bangla Academy Award