Mother Language Day architect dies

The Bangladeshi expatriate died in Vancouver General Hospital in Canada on Wednesday.

He was 63.

Rafiqul’s family members said he had been suffering from leukaemia for over two years.

He was admitted to hospital the day after Eid-ul Azha, as his condition deteriorated.

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN AKA Momem confirmed the news.

Rafiqul, who hailed from Rajbari in Comilla, has been living in Canada for the last 18 years.

Initiatives by Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam, members of Vancouver-based Mother Language of the World, inspired the Bangladesh government to work towards achieving UN recognition of the glorious Language Movement.

Responding to Bangladesh's formal proposal, the UNESCO in 1999 declared Feb 21 as International Mother Language Day.