Architect of Int'l Mother Language Day passes away

Rafiqul Islam, one of the architects of International Mother Language Day, died on Wednesday at Vancouver General Hospital in Canada. He was 63.
Rafiqul's family members said he had been suffering from leukaemia for over two years. He was admitted to the hospital the day after Eid-ul Azha, as his condition deteriorated. 
He left behind his wife, two sons and a host of relatives to mourn his death. 
Rafiqul had been living in Canada for the last 18 years.
Initiatives by Rafiqul and Abdus Salam, members of Vancouver -based NGO "Mother Language Lovers of the World", inspired Bangladesh government to work towards achieving UN recognition of the Language Movement.
Responding to Bangladesh's proposal, the UNESCO in 1999 declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day.