Language Policy Planning for Achieving Sustainable Developmental Goals: A Study on Bangladesh Perspective

Abstract

This paper aims at establishing a link between language policy planning and the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Language can play an effective influential role in attaining SDGs, especially if it is utilized as ‘capital’. In order to ensure ‘leaving no one behind’, the motto of the SDGs, an instrumental language policy formation and introduction is a must. Bangladesh has observed the golden jubilee of independence, but it is a matter of sorrow that a language policy planning is yet to be executed. Bangladesh is also trying to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Considering this yet-to-achievement of Bangladesh, this study is designed as a mixed method research where the survey, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews are used. This study is conducted at different sectors in Bangladesh relevant to national policy making like SDG Implementation Committee, Planning Commission; Secretariat of Education, Finance, Labour and Employment, and Planning; renowned educationists and linguists, and the target people of the SDGs. In the light of the philosophical underpinnings of Kaplan and Baldauf, Spolsky, Tollefson, and Leech, this study will explore why a language policy is important for achieving SDGs and how the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth, and sixteenth goals of the SDGs can be achieved through the introduction of such a language policy. The findings of the study will suggest that an instrumental language policy helps achieve sustainable developmental goals.