Dr M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, a former vice-chancellor of Islamic University in Kushtia, took over as the director general of Bangla Academy on Wednesday (July 24, 2024). The government appointed him to the post for the next three years on July 18. He was replaced by Nurul Huda as his tenure came to an end. The officials of the Bangla Academy, however, welcomed the newly appointed DG with floral reception. While taking charge, Dr Rashid Askari sought cooperation from all to work for the improvement of the academy’s ranking in the international arena and maintain transparency and accountability in all sectors. Rashid Askari, who previously served the IU in Kushtia as its 12th VC, joined the university as lecturer in English in 1990. Read more: 'Winds of Flavour': Jahangir Hossain's solo exhibition begins at Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts He, as a vice-chancellor, introduced considerable measures to secularize and internationalize the academic trajectory of the university as well as adopted down to earth policies to help the university cope with various challenges of the 21st Century. He has facilitated the development of the understanding of cultural diversity of humankind in order to prepare students to go forth with skills, knowledge and wisdom to serve and advance the communities in which they live and work.

Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Sirajee was put on life support at a city hospital on Tuesday. The Ekushey Padak-winning poet was admitted to Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Shyamoli on April 25 and shifted to the ICU this morning. Bangla Academy Secretary AHM Lokman said the DG was hospitalised after feeling unbearable pain in his stomach, which was caused by complications in his intestine and the digestive system. “A medical board was formed to treat him. He’s scheduled to undergo an operation tonight," he told UNB. Sirajee has other health complications including peptic ulcer but he tested negative for COVID-19, Lokman said. "He’s taken both shots of COVID-19 vaccine and also tested very recently. The result came out negative," he said. The poet took charge as the Bangla Academy DG on December 20, 2018. Born on December 31, 1948 in Faridpur, Sirajee graduated from BUET and was one of the founders and former president of Jatiya Kabita Parishad (National Poetry Council). He won the Ekushey Padak in 2016 and Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1991 for his remarkable contribution to poetry.

After the postponement during its traditional month of February, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021 finally begins on Thursday at the Bangla Academy premises and the adjacent venue at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.