Rafiqul Islam (1 January 1934 – 30 November 2021) was a Bangladeshi educationist, scholar, writer, linguist and cultural activist. He served at the

Bangla Academy The Bangla Academy (, ) is the official regulatory body of the Bengali language in Bangladesh. It is an autonomous institution funded by the Government of Bangladesh that fosters the Bengali language, literature and culture, works to develop an ...

as a president (2021) and a director general (2001). He was inducted as a

National Professor National Professor () is a prestigious teaching award given by the government of Bangladesh for outstanding contribution in the field of education. It is awarded by the President of Bangladesh according to ''Bangladesh National Professor Resolutio ...

by the

Government of Bangladesh The government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh () is the central government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Constitution of Bangladesh comprising the executive (the president, prime minister and cabinet), the ...

in July 2018. He was a

vice-chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

(2007–2011), professor emeritus and adviser to the Centre for Bangla Studies of the

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh () (ULAB) is a private liberal arts-based university in Mohammadpur Thana, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in February 2002, permission to open was received from the University Grants Commission (B ...

(ULAB). He served as the chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trustee Board. He was awarded

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak () is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of martyrs of the Bengali language movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contributions in a number of fields, including culture, education, and e ...

in 2001 and

Independence Day Award The Independence Award (), formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak (), is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Banglade ...

in 2012 by the

. Islam's notable books include ''Nazrul Nirdeshika'', ''Bhashtottya'', ''An Introduction to Colloquial Bengali'', ''Bangladesher Swadhinota Sangram'', ''Bhasha Andolan O Shahid Minar'', ''Dhakar Kotha'', ''Bhasha Andolan o Muktijhuddher Shahitya'', ''Swadhinotar Sangrame Dhaka Biswabidyalaya'', and ''Dhaka Biswabidyalayar Ashi Bosor''.

Education and career

Islam completed his master's in Bengali language and literature from the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka w ...

in 1956. He then joined the same university as a research scholar and lecturer. He received a

Fulbright Scholarship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States cultural exchange programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...

to study linguistics in the United States in 1959. He attended

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

. He obtained a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

from

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

in general linguistics and cultural anthropology in 1960. He joined the department of Bengali in the University of Dhaka as an assistant professor in 1961. He eventually served as a professor of the university at the Department Of Linguistics. Later, he served as the

of the

. Islam wrote 30 books on the language, literature, history and culture of Bangladesh. Islam was the director general of Bangla Academy from April-December 2001. He served as a chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trustee Board. Islam died on 30 November 2021 at the Evercare Hospital Dhaka.

Awards and honours

* Nazrul Academy Award, Churulia, West Bengal (1987) * Nazrul Institute Award (1987) *

Bangla Academy Literary Award The Bangla Academy Literary Award (; ''Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar'') is given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius in advancement and overall contribution in the field of Bengali language and literature. ...

(1984) *

(2001) *

(2012) * Star Lifetime Award (2016) * Bangla Academy Shommanona (2017) *

recognition (2018) * International Mother Language Award (2021)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rafiqul Islam 1934 births 2021 deaths People from Matlab Uttar Upazila University of Dhaka alumni Academic staff of the University of Dhaka Cornell University alumni Bangladeshi male writers Recipients of Bangla Academy Award Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Recipients of the Independence Award Academic staff of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh Vice-chancellors of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh