Stressing the importance of increased use of Bangla in higher education and research, experts here on Saturday urged the country’s policymakers and academicians to help remove the stereotyped idea that Bangla education is of below standard.

They came up with the call during a discussion programme titled ‘Higher Education, Research and Intellectual Pursuits in Mother Tongue’ organised by The University Press Limited (UPL), marking its ‘40 years of excellence’, reports the UNB.

Former special adviser (Employment Sector) of ILO, Geneva, Dr Rizwanul Islam, also the moderator of the discussion, said a drive is necessary to encourage all to use Bangla in research works and higher education.

‘At this age of market economy, nothing can be imposed without motivation and the writers and researchers must be motivated to write textbooks for higher education and their research works in Bangla,’ said Rizwanul Islam.

The discussion session was organised with four panelists, including Architect Prof Shayer Ghafur, Prof Sourov Sikdar of Dhaka University’s Linguistics department, and writer Andalib Rashdi.

Prof Sourov said if education and research are not practised in mother tongue then the general people will not get the benefits of their findings.

‘Unnecessary affection for English language must be resisted and it’s high time to take care of Bangla as a language of necessity,’ he added.

Criticising the three dimensional education system, Andalib Rashdi said the middle-class people of the country is turning itself from Bangla medium education.

The panel concluded that initiatives need to be taken to eradicate the divide between English and Bangla as the medium of education.

Marking its 40th anniversary, UPL hosted its first UPL Excellence Awards dedicating those to all the authors, associates, friends and patrons who have taken the UPL to where it is today.

A special Extraordinary Best Seller Award went to the singular title, Unfinished Memoirs while eminent economist Prof Rehman Sobhan and distinguished soil scientist Hugh Brammer were selected for the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The Best Seller Award (Fiction and Non-Fiction) went to Prodoshe Prakritojon, Chihlekothar Sepay, Porarthoporotar Orthonity, Muldhara Ekattor, Ekattorer Smrity, Probashe Muktijuddher Dinguli, Postcards from Bangladesh and Sailing against the Wind.

The other award categories were the Outstanding Impact Award, Prolific Author Award, Support Institution Award, Associate Award and Patron Award.

UPL also showcased its Adopt a Library Program during the ceremony and the event was interspersed with musical performances by students of Sangitachariya Razwan Ali, a professor at the Music Department of Jagannath University.