The Academy has the responsibility of developing BangIa, both written and
spoken, and the culture of the land. One aim of the nation is to introduce
BangIa in as many spheres of work as possible, replacing English. This is
an important, though difficult, goal and the Academy plays an important
role in achieving it. BangIa equivalent of technical and other foreign terms
is coined and introduced by the Academy, and the use of BangIa standardized.
A modern BangIa Typewriter developed by late Professor Munir Choudhury has
been introduced and is in wide use. An electronic bilingual type-writer
with a standardized keyboard has been launched by the Academy in collaboration
with Sapta Sindhu Limited. The Academy has also launched a computer font
in collaboration with CITech Limited.
The Academy produces standard textbooks and advanced treatises on various
branches of knowledge, including science and technology. Its work also includes
compilation and publication of dictionaries, bibliographies and encyclopaedias.
Research work on language, literature and culture is another important responsibility
of the Academy. Major works of the world literature are translated into
BangIa and major works in BangIa into English. The folk¬literature of
the country is collected, preserved and published. The Academy publishes
five journals-a research journal, a journal on science and technology, a
journal of creative writings, a journal in English and one for children.
More to it, the Academy has been publishing a monthly bulletin named Lekha
since April 1991. It organizes throughout the year, seminars on important
literary figures, of both Bangladesh and the world, and matters related
to culture, society and socio-economy. The Academy organizes in February
a month long Ekushe celebration and the Book Fair, which has earned celebrity
in the whole region. Recently, the book fair has been taken across the world
through website.
The Academy awards research fellowships. Also awarded, annually, are two
prizes for outstanding contributions to BangIa literature. Creative works
of significance, not ordinarily accep¬table to publishers on commercial
considerations, are published by the Academy. The Academy is, in fact, the
largest publishing house in the country. It works also for book development
and book promotion and organizes book-fairs. Finally, it organizes courses
for teaching foreign students BangIa and for introducing the literature
and culture of the land to outsiders.
