The International Mother Language Institute (Amendment) Act, 2024 was introduced in Parliament on Wednesday, aiming to establish a trust fund dedicated to researching near-extinct mother tongues and language movements globally.
The proposed fund, named the "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Language Research Trust Fund," seeks to honor the Father of the Nation's legacy in promoting the Bengali language.
Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury presented the bill, which was subsequently referred to the respective scrutiny committee for further review. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within one month.
The bill outlines the creation of two types of funds: permanent and current.
Permanent Fund Sources:
1. One-time grants from the Government.
2. Periodic grants from the Government.
3. Income or profit from investments of the permanent fund.
4. Contributions from other approved sources.
Current Fund Utilization:
1. Research on the Bengali language and other language movements.
2. Scholarships, fellowships, grants, and training for language research and education.
3. Preservation and development of endangered and unwritten languages.
4. Financial support for translation activities.
5. Enhancing the institute's library, world script archive, and language museum.
6. Financial and technical assistance for research activities.
Current Fund Sources:
1. Government grants.
2. Donations from local authorities, individuals, or institutions approved by the Government.
3. Donations, grants, loans from foreign governments, international organizations, or institutions authorized by the Government.
4. Income from investments of the current fund.
5. Contributions from other approved sources.
The Board of Directors for the fund will include:
1. The Minister of Education (Chairman).
2. Minister of State or Deputy Minister of Education.
3. Secretary of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education.
4. Secretary of the Finance Department.
5. Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
6. Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7. Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
8. Director General of Bangla Academy.
9. Deputy Secretary General of the Bangladesh UNESCO National Commission, Dhaka.
10. President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI).
11. Head of UNESCO in Bangladesh.
12. At least two language education experts nominated by the Government.
13. The Director of the International Mother Language Institute (Member-Secretary).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the formation of this trust fund in 2020 at the International Mother Language Institute, aiming to provide fellowships and support for language learning. The bill emphasizes that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated the movement to recognize Bengali as the national language, making it fitting to name the trust fund in his honor. Approval has been obtained from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust for this initiative.