English Language Policy and the Teaching of English in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is an independent and promising country. In 1971 we achieved our independence by defeating the brutal and aggressive Pakistani Armed Forces under the leadership of Bongo bondhu sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the nation. During the reign of British Empire in this sub-continent English language was used as the official language. Now in the present world context English language has become a global language .So the demand of using this language has increased among all the countries in the world like China, Japan, India, Bangladesh and others. But in Bangladesh there is no clear cut policy regarding the status of English language. Since 1974, several national education commissions were formed in Bangladesh with changing shifts in policies which in turn had their impacts in our education system. This article attempts to analyze the policy influencing on the varied aspects of English language education from the primary to the tertiary level – including changes in curriculum design, materials, pedagogy, and assessment with its spillover into dubious teaching- learning practices sadly sanctioned by society. This paper will also explore the diverse realizations of these policy shifts within an overarching perception of a changing global polity, newly emerging stakeholders and the complexity of transition from policy to practice. However, in reality this is a focus on the changing perceptions of the English language perceived initially through strong nationalist feelings but gradually moving on through diverse realizations to a current neo- liberal stance.