The History of English Language in Bangladesh

The state of English in Bangladesh in the twenty- first century is indeed all-embracing. The use and role of English in media, press, education, commerce, and industries, courts, information and technology, national and international communication signify that English is a highly functional language in this country. Such exhilarating linguistic circumstance of English raises a very significant linguistic issue: How and why has English become very pragmatic in the life of the people in Bangladesh. This article attempts to answer this question from a historical perspective. It analyzes the use and spread of English in Bangladesh since independence in 1971. It also gives evidence of the presence of English in the important domains of national life. Finally, the paper concludes with some recommendations towards bringing effective language policies that will remove the confusion regarding language use and allow people to use English for development purposes.