The 8th International Language and Development Conference will be held on 23 – 25 June 2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I attended the 2005 event in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and thought it was a wonderful conference and a great opportunity to see, in my opinion at least, the bigger picture of what we are doing. I highly recommend you consider going to this conference. Below is the information as sent out:

British Council Bangladesh is pleased to announce the Eighth International Conference on Language and Development. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Department for International Development (DFID) Bangladesh has agreed to provide necessary support for the conference. University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC), Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh have also given their consent to work as strategic partners.
The broad theme of the conference will be: Language and Development: Socio Cultural Issues and Challenges
Subtheme – 1. Language, Gender and Development
Subtheme – 2. The Role of Languages in National and Cultural Identity
Subtheme – 3. Sociolinguistic issues: Challenges and Opportunities
Subtheme – 4. Capacity building for National Development
Subtheme – 5. Language and Technology

These issues will be approached from the perspective of policy makers, language and literacy educators and that of multi-lateral and bilateral donors.
The 2009 conference is the eighth in a series which began in Bangkok in 1993 and was followed by Bali in 1995, Langkawi in 1997, Hanoi in 1999, Phnom Penh in 2001, Tashkent in 2003, and Addis Ababa in 2005.

For further information please contact Mirza Beg, Education Projects and ELT Manager, British Council, Bangladesh at mirza.beg@bd.britishcouncil.org, and Jui Judith Gomes, Education Officer, British Council, Bangladesh at judith.gomes@bd.britishcouncil.org.
Conference details are available on http://www.langdevconference-bd.org/