BANGLADESH

BANGLADESH. A country of South Asia and member of the COMMONWEALTH. Languages: Bengali (official), English for higher education, indigenous languages. Local links with English date from the 17c; from the 18c till 1947, Bengal was part of British India. In 1947, East Bengal became East Pakistan. In 1971, the territory seceded from Pakistan during a short war and became independent. During the Pakistani period, Urdu was the national language, and English was the official second language (used for administration, higher education, and as a link language between educated speakers of Bengali and Urdu). Bengali came third. Resentment of Urdu led to a prolonged and violent language movement. When in 1987 the Bangla Procolon Ain/Bengali Implementation Act was passed, Bengali became the main language of education and English ceased to be the official second language. It continues, however, to be used as the language of the higher law courts and of South Asian communication, and has a place in radio and television. A number of newspapers and magazines are published in English. In 1989, English was made a compulsory language for primary and secondary education: a pass in Bengali and English is mandatory for the Secondary Certificate. At university level, English is a popular optional subject. English as used in Bangladesh is similar to that in West Bengal in India. See SOUTH ASIAN ENGLISH.