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Bangla Academy losing autonomy due to govt interference

SULTANA RAHMAN
Bangla Academy is losing its glory due to unwanted interference by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in its activities, academy sources said.
Although the academy founded 50 years ago was given autonomous status through an ordinance in 1978, the autonomy has been damaged over the years.
Now the academy can hardly take a decision independently, even the ministry dictates to the academy while awarding its prestigious membership.
"The academy is losing its grace due to some philistines who are involved in it because of their political background," an academy official alleged.
According to Bangla Academy Ordinance 1978, its membership is open to 'distinguished scholars and persons of high literary and scientific merit.'
But in recent years a number of people were given membership under political considerations, without judging their eligibility, sources alleged.
They said Takdir Hossain Jasim, a former leader of Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD), student wing of ruling BNP, has got the academy membership.
Jasim was better known as a JCD cadre during late 80s and early 90s, and the owner of DUS (Dhaka University Snacks), a fast food shop on DU campus.
Academy sources said Jasim has no publication to his credit that a person must have to get the academy membership.
The academy is now forced to give membership to the activists of the ruling party wings," a senior official of the academy said requesting not to be named.
Sources said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and political leaders
recommend former Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal men to be the members of the academy.
"When persons like Jasim receive academy membership, it brings nothing but disgrace to the academy," an academician said.
"Membership of the Bangla Academy is still considered as one of the very few precious memberships in the country," he said.
Moyeenul Hasan, acting director general of the academy said: "The nation has lost sprit over the years and Bangla Academy is not an isolated island."
Hasan, also the secretary of Bangla Academy, said the cultural affairs ministry has 'less interference' in the academy activities.
But M Masud, joint secretary of the ministry, said: "In many cases the academy cannot take decision and we just help them to take their decisions."
However, the ministry officials denied the allegation that the ministry had sent a list of people loyal to the government to employ them in the academy.
Meanwhile, lobbying began at the ministry for the post of academy director general (DG) which has fallen vacant recently.
Sources said the ministry wants the renewal of academy's former DG Monsur Musa's appointment for another term.
The academy, founded in 1955, over the years became a unique centre of the country's eminent intellectuals, academicians, writers and researchers towards the advancement of Bengali literature.
Since its establishment, the academy has published 4,402 books, besides dictionaries, bibliographies and encyclopaedia.
The academy's another significant job is to organise month-long Ekushey Book Fair every year on its premises.