Published on 12:00 AM, December 05, 2018

Bangla Academy completes 63 YEARS

Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

Bangla Academy celebrated its 63rd founding anniversary on Monday. A programme, beginning with wreaths placed at the Central Shaheed Minar and grave of Dr Mohammad Shahidullah was arranged to mark the day.

A discussion session chaired by writer Subrata Barua was held at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad hall of the academy preceded by a minute of silence in honour of the martyrs of the Language Movement. Columnist, researcher and cultural personality Mofidul Haque presented the founding anniversary keynote speech titled, Boishhik Potobhumikay Bangali Jatiyotabad o Jatirashta, at the discussion session. Director of Bangla Academy, Aparesh Kumar Banerjee, was also present in the panel. The session was followed by a cultural programme presented by the executives and staff of Bangla Academy. Dignitaries along with former directors and executives of the academy were present in the programme.

Bangla Academy began its journey on December 3, 1955. Chief Minister of the then East Bengal, Abu Hossain Sarker, inaugurated the academy, which started with the main aim of  conducting research on Bangla, our culture and history, and publishing  Bangla literary and research works. The academy organises the month-long Ekushey Book Fair, the biggest book fair of the country, commemorating the Language Movement and its martyrs.