Bangla Academy entitled to work independently: Farooki

Marking the 69th founding anniversary of Bangla Academy, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said Bangla Academy is entitled to work independently with the government's support, as the government have nominated the academy to work on the language, literature and culture of the people of Bangladesh.

"Although Bangla Academy is primarily recognised to the general public for its dictionaries and the Ekushey Book Fair, it has been producing significant works for the development and preservation of Bengali language, literature, and culture, for the last seven decades," Adviser Farooki said at the 69th founding anniversary ceremony in the academy yesterday (3 December).

Known as the official regulatory body regarding the Bengali language in the country, Bangla Academy was founded on 3 December 1955, based on the suggestions proposed by eminent linguist, philologist, educationist, and writer Dr Muhammad Shahidullah and other like-minded intellectuals.

Commemorating the founding anniversary, the academy organised a special seminar at its Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium on Tuesday afternoon, chaired by Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq.

Farooki joined the event as the chief guest, while Bangla Academy Director General Dr Mohammad Azam delivered the welcome speech. Former Bangla Academy director general Mansur Musa presented the keynote speech titled 'Bangla Gobeshonaloy Sonkranto Bichitro Durbhabona'.

The event began with screening a documentary on the July-August student-led mass reprising, followed by a minute of silence in remembrance of the late Professor Harunur Rashid, the former president and director general of the Bangla Academy and a distinguished scholar.

Addressing the recent circumstances, Farooki said, "Our main objective is to rebuild the damaged bridges in the sphere of national thoughts rather than being one-sided in the intellectual and cultural fields, so that all citizens can find the language of their rights."

"The Bangla Academy plays an important role in this regard," Farooki said, adding, "The academy may be financially dependent on the government, but the government is not a mirage. We have nominated Bangla Academy to work on Bangladesh's language, literature, and culture using the hard-earned money of the Bangladeshi people, and we will cooperate with the academy with our best offerings.".

Mentioning that the Bangla Academy is at the center of interest and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh, DG Prof Mohammad Azam said, "At various times due to state and party pressure, the academy may have faced opposition to conduct its work independently, but in the changed reality after the recent mass uprising, we hope that the academy will be able to independently fulfill its national responsibilities - and we are committed to this."

The Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haq and the keynote speaker, former Director General Mansur Musa shared their experiences, observations and insightful thoughts regarding the academy's past, present and future.

The founding anniversary began with hoisting the national flag and Bangla Academy flag atop the academy premises. Bangla Academy officials placed floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning, paying tribute to the 1952 language movement martyrs, and the visionary of Bangla Academy Dr Muhammad Shahidullah.