The book launching ceremony of Routledge Handbook of English Language Education in Bangladesh (2021) edited by Shaila Sultana, M. Moninoor Roshid, Md. Zulfeqar Haider, Mian Md. Naushaad Kabir, and Mahmud Hasan Khan was held on January 27 evening virtually, says a press release.
This comprehensive Handbook is the first international publication on the historical development, shifting paradigms and practices, and present condition of English language teaching (ELT) in Bangladesh.
It has not only brought out critical perspectives on ELT and colonial and postcolonial history, ideologies, and values in terms of the English language policy and rapid development of the ELT industry in Bangladesh but come up with suggestions for possible decolonisation and deeliticisation of English in Bangladesh.
The Handbook includes 27 chapters of diverse kinds (e.g., descriptive, theoretical, empirical etc.) from 33 experienced and young English language educators and researchers from home and abroad including Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, England, Sweden, and Austria. Hence, Handbook is considered a milestone, and editors, contributors, the publisher, and ELT scholars celebrated the publication together.
Professor Emeritus Alastair Pennycook (University of Technology Sydney), Former Professor Arifa Rahman (University of Dhaka), and Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh) attended the occasion and delivered valuable speeches as Guest Speakers. Professor A. M. M. Hamidur Rahman (Daffodil International University), Professor Shamsad Mortuza (Vice Chancellor, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh), Dr. Raqib Chowdhury (Monash University, Australia), and Dr M. Obaidul Hamid (The University of Queensland, Australia) participated as the discussants.
In their speeches, they overwhelmingly appreciated the courage and initiative of the editors to publish this ground-breaking Handbook. They expressed that this Handbook will contribute to future education and research. In the event, the authors and editors shared their stories that happened throughout the journey.