[1] Planning for the International Mother Language Institute (IMLI), intended to promote Bangla and preserve endangered languages, began in 1999.

[2] It was inaugurated at Segunbagicha, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 15 March 2001.

[3] Construction started on 6 April 2003, stopped with the next change of government, and resumed on 11 February 2008.

In 2015 UNESCO applied Category II Institute status to IMLI.

Professor Hakim Arif is the present director general.