The importance of establishing an organisation for Bengali language was first emphasised by the linguist Muhammad Shahidullah.

[3][4] The building was the official residence of the Chief Minister of East Pakistan, Nurul Amin during the Language movement and part of the University of Dhaka before that.

[4][5] Following the election success of the Front, the education minister Syed Azizul Haque placed the order to fulfill this promise.

The committee was composed of leading intellectuals like Muhammad Shahidullah, Qazi Motahar Hossain, S.M.

On 3 December 1955, the Chief Minister of East Bengal, Abu Hussain Sarkar, inaugurated the institute.

[3] The first book published by the academy was Laili Maznu, an epic by the medieval poet Dawlat Ujir Bahram Khan, and edited by Ahmed Sharif.

[6] Mazharul Islam, head of Bangla Department of Rajshahi University, was the first Director General of the institute.

The selection process the crucial decision to ditch one manuscript to pick another that will be added to the long list of academy publications, is faulty and in dire need of revision.

The prize money of Tk 1,00,000, a certificate and a memento are presented to the award-winning writer in the annual general meeting of Bangla Academy.