Lesson 1/45 min
Bangla Academy and language institutions
Bangla Academy
- Purpose: practice, research and promotion of the Bangla language and literature
- Founded: 3 December 1955, a result of the Language Movement
- Main building: Bardhaman House, Dhaka, which also holds a Language Movement museum
- First director: Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haque
- First director general: Dr. Mazharul Islam
- First president: Maulana Akram Khan (given in Zubair's book)
- Bangla Academy Literary Award started: 1960
- Book fair: according to the books, run by the Academy from 1978; Chittaranjan Saha was among its pioneers
- Main auditorium: Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium
- Sculpture “Moder Gorob” (in memory of the language martyrs): sculptor Akhil Paul
- Nazrul Mancha and Rabindra Mancha stand in the Academy grounds
- The name “Bangla Academy” was given by Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah
Bangla Academy periodicals
| Periodical | Kind |
|---|---|
| Bangla Academy Patrika | Research quarterly |
| Uttaradhikar | Creative monthly |
| Dhan-Shaliker Deshe | Quarterly for teenagers |
| Bangla Academy Journal | Half-yearly, in English |
| Lekha | The Academy's monthly mouthpiece |
Bardhaman House
- The earlier name of Bangla Academy's main building
- Built: 1906
- In 1952 it was the office of the Chief Minister of East Bengal
Watch out: Zubair's book says the Ekushey Padak began in 1960 from Bangla Academy. In fact 1960 is the start of the Bangla Academy Literary Award; the Ekushey Padak is a government award, first given in 1976.
International Mother Language Institute
- Location: Segunbagicha, Dhaka
- Foundation stone: 15 March 2001, by the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
- Opened: 21 February 2010, by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
- Aim: research, development, preservation and coordination of all the world's languages, Bangla included; an autonomous body
Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
- Founded: 1784 by Sir William Jones (at Fort William, Kolkata)
- 1952: Asiatic Society of Pakistan; renamed Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in 1972
- Banglapedia (national encyclopaedia): 10 volumes in 2003; second edition in 14 volumes in 2013
- Editor of the first edition: Dr. Sirajul Islam (Zubair's book)
- Sculpture “Global Language Tree”: sculptor Ivy Zaman
Check yourself
What was the earlier name of Bangla Academy's main building?
At a glance
- 1
Bangla Academy was founded on 3 December 1955; its main building is Bardhaman House.
- 2
First director: Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haque; first director general: Dr. Mazharul Islam.
- 3
The Bangla Academy Literary Award began in 1960; the sculpture “Moder Gorob” is by Akhil Paul.
- 4
International Mother Language Institute: Segunbagicha; foundation stone 15 March 2001, opened 21 February 2010.
- 5
The Asiatic Society was founded by Sir William Jones (1784); Banglapedia came out in 10 volumes in 2003.