Rafiqul Islam (16 July 1950 – 20 November 2013) was a Bangladeshi-born Canadian language activist. He played a major role in achieving recognition of February 21 as the

International Mother Language Day International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally r ...

, proclaimed by the General Conference of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

in November 1999. He was awarded

Independence Day Award The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by t ...

posthumously by the

Government of Bangladesh The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Con ...

in 2016. He was a member of Vancouver-based organization

The Mother Language Lovers Of The World The Mother Language Lovers Of The World () is a non-profit organisation that works for the protection of languages. It was vital in getting 21 February declared the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO. 21 February is known as the Language M ...

which was awarded

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contribut ...

in 2001 for the same cause.

Death

Islam had lived in Canada for 18 years until he died of leukaemia on 20 November 2013 in Vancouver General Hospital in Canada.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Islam, Rafiqul 1950 births 2013 deaths People from Comilla District University of Dhaka alumni Bangladeshi activists Recipients of the Independence Day Award