Three persons, one institution to receive IMLI accolades

International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) authorities will give awards to three persons (two local and one foreign) and one overseas institution for their outstanding role in protection, promotion and revitalisation of mother languages throughout the world.
Those who have been nominated for the International Mother Language Award -2021 are National Professor Md Rafiqul Islam, Mathura Bikash Tripura of Bangladesh, Uzbek national Ismailov Gulom Mirzaevich and foreign institution Activismo Lenguas.
The awards will be handed over to them at a function on the Language Martyrs Day on February 21.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the award giving ceremony virtually as the chief guest.
Talking to the FE correspondent, Director General of IMLI Dr Jinnat Imtiaz Ali said they are going to give the awards for the first time and it will continue.
The Prime Minister has nominated the two Bangladeshis, one foreign national and one foreign institution for the awards.
Prof Md Rafiqul Islam is an eminent educationist, scholar, language scientist, cultural activist and a Nazrul researcher.
He actively participated in the Mother Language Movement of 1952 and contributed significantly to the protection, preservation and promotion of the mother language Bangla.
Mathura Bikash Tripura has been involved with research works on ethnic groups' mother tongue -based multilingual education in Bangladesh and protection, promotion and revitalisation of different ethnic languages.
Ismailov Gulom Mirzaevich has made outstanding contributions to research on Uzbek language, practice and culture of mother language protection, promotion and revitalisation in Uzbekistan and abroad.
The Activismo Lenguas (Language Activism) is an online initiative coordinated by the Rising Voices that strives to support networks of indigenous language digital activists in Latin America.
Established in 2014 and based in Bolivia, the Activismo Lenguas does not have a physical office. All of its staff members join work virtually.
Dr Jinnat Imtiaz Ali said declaration of February 21 as the International Mother Language Day by the United Nations on November 17, 1999 is an unprecedented event not only for the Bangla language but also in the history of all mother languages of the world.
As per the International Mother Language Act 2010,
The rules on International Mother Language International Award -2019 were finalised paving the way for the IMLI to give awards to persons and institutions in every two years.
On December 7, 1999, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that an international mother language institute would be established in Dhaka for research and preservation of the dignity and rights of the nearly extinct languages of the world.
According to that declaration, the IMLI was established at Segunbagicha in the capital and has been functioning actively towards achieving the goals and objectives.

[email protected]