Rafiqul Islam (educationist)

For other people with the same name, see Rafiqul Islam (disambiguation).

Rafiqul Islam (1 January 1934 – 30 November 2021) was a Bangladeshi educationist, scholar, writer, linguist and cultural activist. He served at the Bangla Academy as a president (2021) and a director general (2001).^[1][2] He was inducted as a National Professor by the Government of Bangladesh in July 2018.^[3] He was a vice-chancellor (2007–2011), professor emeritus and adviser to the Centre for Bangla Studies of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).^[3][4] He served as the chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trustee Board.^[3] He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2001 and Independence Day Award in 2012 by the Government of Bangladesh.^[5]

Rafiqul Islam
রফিকুল ইসলাম
Rafiq in 2019
President of Bangla Academy
In office 1 June 2021 – 30 November 2021
Preceded by	Anisuzzaman
Succeeded by	Selina Hossain
Vice-Chancellor of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
In office 2007–2011
Preceded by	Kazi Shahid Ahmed
Succeeded by	Imran Rahman
Director General of Bangla Academy
In office 30 April 2001 – 31 December 2001
Preceded by	Syed Anwar Husain
Succeeded by	Abul Mansur Muhammad Abu Musa
Personal details
Born	(1934-01-01)1 January 1934 Matlab North, Chandpur, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	30 November 2021(2021-11-30) (aged 87) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Alma mater	University of Dhaka Cornell University University of Minnesota University of Michigan University of Hawaiʻi
Occupation	Educationist, researcher, writer
Known for	Nazrul research
Awards	full list

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.^[6]

Education and career

Islam completed his master's in Bengali language and literature from the University of Dhaka in 1956. He then joined the same university as a research scholar and lecturer. He received a Fulbright Scholarship to study linguistics in the United States in 1959.^[5] He attended Yale University. He obtained a master's degree from Cornell University 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 vice-chancellor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.^[5]

Islam wrote 30 books on the language, literature, history and culture of Bangladesh.^[5]

Islam was the director general of Bangla Academy from April-December 2001.^[6] He served as a chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trustee Board.^[6]

Islam died on 30 November 2021 at the Evercare Hospital Dhaka.^[7]

Awards and honours

• Nazrul Academy Award, Churulia, West Bengal (1987)^[6]
• Nazrul Institute Award (1987)^[6]
• Bangla Academy Literary Award (1984)^[8]
• Ekushey Padak (2001)^[6]
• Independence Day Award (2012)^[6]
• Star Lifetime Award (2016)^[9]
• Bangla Academy Shommanona (2017)^[6]
• National Professor recognition (2018)
• International Mother Language Award (2021)