BGMEA University of Fashion &

Technology

Course Title: Bangladesh Studies

Course Code: HUM-3201

Assignment Name: Language Movement Of Bangladesh

Submitted By
Ratul Hasan
ID: 192-029-811
Batch: 192; Section: 1
Department of Textile engineering & Management.
BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology

Submitted To
Abdul Momen (AM)
Department of Social Science
BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology
Abstract
The language theme is one of the most important events of our Bangladeshi culture.
This was the first step towards the growth of Bangladeshi nationalism and for a unique
and separate identity as a Bangladeshi. One of the critical reasons for the occurrence of
this event is the oppression of the West Pakistanis upon the East Pakistani people.
Through my research assignment, I will try to answer what caused the buildup of such
movement. Besides, I will also try to answer the events during the language movement
and how these events still affect our traditions and culture. Finally, I will try to answer
what the significance or aftermath of this language movement is

Introduction:
The partition of 1947 caused the birth of two nations: India and Pakistan. Pakistan was
also comprised of West Pakistan and East Pakistan (which is now Bangladesh). Even
though the partition took place mainly based on Mohammad Ali Jinnah's two-nation
theory, nothing seemed to favor the East Pakistani people as they were deprived of all
basic rights. The first five-year rule of Pakistan from 1947 to 1952 worsened East
Pakistan's economy. Not only that, the average living conditions of the East Pakistani
people, both in terms of an individual's financial condition and basic living necessity,
deteriorated significantly. To make the situation worse, the exclusion of the Bengali
language from the state language was also done by the West Pakistanis. This was the
main reason for the start of the language movement. The language movement has
mainly two phases: the initial buildup in 1947 and 1948, which was more of a
constitutional one, and the other one was of 1952, which was fiercer and more intense.

Primitive Stage of Language Movement

Right to mother language is one of the important citizen rights. The mother language
of the 56% majority people was Bangla; Urdu was not the mother language of any
regions in Pakistan. But the attempt was made to impose Urdu as state language. The
attempt to impose Urdu as state language in an undemocratic manner was resisted by
the Bangalis. The movement was thus initiated by the Bangalis which has been known
as Language Movement. In an Education Conference in Karachi held in December 194
7, Urdu was proposed as state language. The student leaders, intelligentsia and political
leaders of East Bengal formed Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad on the struggle for
State Language. They demanded that Bangla be one of the state languages of Pakistan.
Consequently, we saw that in the first session of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
held on 23 February, 1948 Mr. Dhirendranath Dutta from Comilla, an Assembly
Member, tabled a bill of introducing Bangla as the language of assembly along with
Urdu and English. But from the beginning the Pakistani rulers were not willing to
accept this demand.

In the first stage of Language Movement, the students observed 11 March 1948 as the
day for the demand of Bangla language, A general strike was declared on that day.
Student leaders of East Pakistan Muslim Student’s League (established on January 4,
1948) who had been studying in the University of Dhaka were leading this movement.
In the Morning on 11 March police arrested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
Shamsul Haq Oli Ahad and many others while they were picketing in front of the
Secretariat.

In this stage of Language Movement, on 21 March of 1948, the founder and the then
Governor General of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah upon his visit to Dhaka declared
at Race Course Maidan (currently Suhrawardy Uddyan) that “Urdu and only Urdu
shall be the state language of Pakistan". This declaration was instantly protested. One
of the prominent protesters was Bangabandhu. To initiate and organize the movement,
he played a leading role. Because of this he was arrested several times. Before Jinnah's
visit to Dhaka, an 8-point agreement was signed between the Chief Minister of East
Bengal Khawja Nazimuddin and the student leaders. In that agreement, the decision
was taken to take initiative for according Bangla the status of one of the state languages.
Jinnah repeated his prior declaration while addressing the Convocation of students in
Curzon Hall on 24 March. The protests were also staged there. Breaking the agreement
with the students, Khawja Nazimuddin declared Urdu as the only state language on
January 26, 1952 at Paltan Maidan. From this declaration started the second phase of
the language movement. The All party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad was formed
with Kazi Gulam Mahbub as the Convenor. Before this, Dhaka University
Rashtrabhasba Sangram Committee was formed in the Dhaka Univexsity with Abdul
Matin as the Convenor. The renewed declaration of Urdu as the state language by
Khawja Nazimuddin led the students in East Bengal to rise in anger. In prison,
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Mobiuddin Ahmed went on hunger strike
from 16 January to demand for release of state prisoners and 'State language Bangla'.
This added a new dimension to the movement. On behalf of the students, general
strikes and protest demonstrations were called all over East Bengal on 21st February.

On the day before 21st February, the government declared a state of emergency
banning all meetings under section 11. In pursuance of the previously declared
program students organized meetings and took out procession defying the section 144
imposed by the government. Police shot at the procession. Consequently, Salam,
Barkat, Jabbar and many others who were at the forefront of the procession were shot
dead instantly by police. The Pakistani ruling elites were compelled to accept Bangla
as one of the state languages of Pakistan. It was recognized in 1956 Constitution.
Bangali is the only nation in the world which sacrificed their lives for the cause of
language. According to the decision of UNESCO, the UN recognized 21 February as
the day of International Mother language (17 November, 1999). At present, our martyr
day is celebrated as 'International Mother Language Day' all over the world.

Though Pakistan was founded upon the religious identity, Bangalis - beyond this
religious identity- established their identity based on language. So Language
Movement made the Bangalis aware of their self rights. It thus expedited their
aspirations for national liberation.

Major Causes Behind the Language Movement

Social & Cultural

• Language is the crucial part of any culture.

• “Urdu” failed to represent our culture

POLITICAL

• Bangla must be lifted to achieve freedom in real sense

• Domination of any alien language is the worst kind of domination

• The mistake became a weapon.

ECONOMICAL

• Exclusion of Bangla

• People will become “illiterate &ineligible”

• Causing economic downfall.

Tamuddun Majlish

September 1, 1947, under Principal Abul Kashem leadership, Pakistan Tamuddun

Majlish, the initiating organisation of the Language Movement, was established. On
September 15, 1947, Principal Abul Kashem published `Rashtro Bhasha Bangla Na
Urdu?’.

Major Events of Language Movement

 June 1936 - 14-Point Manifesto by Central Parliamentary Board of Pakistan for

"protection and promotion of Urdu")
 (3 October 1937 - "Urdu should be language of Bengali Muslims" advocated at
Lucknow Session of Muslim League)
 17 May 1947 - Muslim League leaders announce in Hyderabad, India, that Urdu
will become state language for the still to be formed Pakistan
 14 July 1947 - Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed says Pakistan should adopt Urdu
 29 July 1947 - Bengali Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah defends Bangla
 July 1947 - Gono Azadi League (GAL) formed by Kamruddin Ahmed
 1 September 1947 - Tamaddun Majlish formed under Professor Abdul Kashem's
leadership
 6-7 September 1947 - Gonotantric Jubo League (Democratic Youth League or
DYL) held conference to resist Urdu
 15 September 1947 - Tamaddun publish pamphlet "Pakistaner Rashtro Bhasha
Bangla na Urdu?"
 27 November 1947 - Fazlur Rahman Khan, Bengali Minister of Education, held
Education Conference in Karachi, Pakistan, where Bangla is dropped
 6 December 1947 - Dhaka University's teachers & students demand Bangla as an
official language
 December 1947 - First "Rastrobhasha Sangram Parishad" (State Language
Movement Committee) formed by Tamaddun's Professor Nurul Huq Bhuiyan
 25 February 1948 - Dhirendranath Datta request Bangla as an official language in
Constituent Assembly of Pakistan held in Karachi. Liaquat Ali Khan, Khwaja
Nazimuddin & others object
 26 February 1948 - Student in Dhaka protest
 11 March 1948 - Shamsul Huq forms committee to led student hartal
(demonstration) in order to conduct the Language Movement in a systematic way
an all party organization named “Rastro Bhasha Sangram Parishad” was formed
 March 1948 - Chief Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin signs 7-Point agreement with
'Parishad'
 21 Mar 1948 - Md. Ali Jinnah, father of the nation and Governor General of
Pakistan, declares "Urdu and only Urdu" as national language of Pakistan in
Ramna Racecourse (Suhrawardy Udyan), Dhaka, East Pakistan
 24 March 1948 - Jinnah reiterates point in Curzon Hall campus of DU. Bangla
students protest by crying out collectively "no, no" in loud voice
 11 September 1948 - Jinnah dies. Nazimuddin becomes new Governor-General of
Pakistan
 8 November 1948 - Nazimuddin delivers watered down version of Bangla policy in
the East Bengal Legislative Assembly
 27 November 1948 - Golam Azam presents 'Historic Memorandum' to PM Liaquat
Ali Khan demanding Bangla as state language
 7 February 1949 - Central Pakistan education advisory board recommends
Arabization of Bangla after receiving recommendation from Fazlur Rahman
 23 June 1949 - Awami Muslim League formed by Maulana Bhashani
 6 December 1950 - East Bengal Language Committee, presided by Maulana
Akram Khan, recommends Arabization of Bangla
 1950 - PM Liaquat Ali Khan declares "Only Urdu will be the national language of
Pakistan"
 16 October 1951 - Liaquat Ali Khan assassinated in Rawalpindi. Nazimuddin
becomes new Prime Minister and Ghulam Muhammad, a public servant, becomes
Governor-General
 26 January 1952 - Nazimuddin declares "only Urdu" as state language in Paltan
Maidan, Dhaka. This enrages people in East Pakistan
 31 January 1952 - Kazi Golam Mahboob convenes "Shorbodolio Kendrio
Rashtrobhasha Kormi Porishod" (All-Party Central Language Action Committee)
with 40 various members. Maulana Bhashani selected as chairman
 4 February 1952 - Abdul Matin forms "Dhaka University's State Language
Committee" in language protest. Shorbodolio Kendrio Rashtrobhasha Kormi
Porishod decide to declare February 21 as the day for strikes throughout the
province terming the day as "Bhasha Dibosh" (Language Day). Gaziul Haq and
Abdul Matin led student procession
 19 February 1952 - Zillur Rahman leads student protest in Amtala of DU
 20 February 1952 - Section 144, banning all processions and meetings for 30 days,
imposed by District Magistrate of Dhaka on behalf of Pakistan Government
 Ekushey (21) February 1952 - Peaceful student, and later public, protest leads to
killing by armed police. Amongst the dead is a 9 year old boy. They become the
first shaheeds (martyrs) of Bangladesh. Chief Minister Nurul Amin ignores plea
by Maulana Tarkabagish and others. Curfew announced by government
 22 February 1952 - Gayebana Janaza held for Ekushey shaheeds, but more people
killed by police again. First Shaheed Minar created in Dhaka
 23 February 1952 - Tamaddun criticises government. Government orders
crackdown of student leaders and prominent figures
 (17 April 1953 - Ghulam Muhammad dismisses PM Nazimuddin and appoints
Bengali Muhammad Ali Bogra, Ambassador to USA, as new PM)

 (21 October 1955 - Awami Muslim League renamed to 'Awami League')

How many were martyred in 1952 Language Movement?

We often hear the names of five martyrs: Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and Shafiur. To
find the names of other victims we have to turn to books written on the Language
Movement. But, even after so many years, there is no complete list of martyrs.
According to available information from Feb 21 and Feb 22, 1952, many people were
killed in indiscriminate firing by government forces, but not all of them have been
recognized.
On Saturday, Feb 23, 1952, the ‘Sainik’ publication of the Language Movement was
published. In the news section it was stated that police fired on students gathering at
the medical college hostel on Thursday, killing seven people and injuring 300. But,
according to the report published in the Daily Azad, nine people were killed in firing
on Feb 21 and Feb 22.

Many bodies were removed.

Calcutta-based newspaper Daily Anandabazar published an article on Feb 23 titled

“The Total Death Toll from Thursday and Friday is 9”.

Pakistan’s exiled writer Lal Khan wrote in his book “Pakistan’s Other Story: The
Revolution in 1968-69” that 26 people were killed and 400 injured in police firing. The
book was published in Lahore in 2008.

According to information provided by Oli Ahad, organiser of Language Movement,

no one knows the exact number of people killed on Feb 22 in Victoria Park (now
Bahadur Shah Park), Nawabpur Road and Bangshal Road. Ahmad Rafiq mentioned
the names of Abdul Awal, Kishore Ahilyaullah and Sirajuddin among the dead in his
book “Ekush Theke Ekattor”.

Hassan Hafizur Rahman edited the “Ekushey February” compilation. In this

compilation, Kabir Uddin Ahmed wrote an article on “Ekushey History”.
“The death of eight is undoubtedly confirmed,” he wrote.

Accordingly, MR Akhtar Mukul has made a list of eight language martyrs. Those
killed on Feb 21 were identified as Rafiquddin Ahmad, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar,
Abdus Salam, Shafiqur Rahman, Abdul Awal, Ahualullah and an unidentified boy. But
only five people were officially recognised as Language Martyrs – Abul Barkat, Abdul
Jabbar, Rafiquddin Ahmad, Abdus Salam and Shafiur Rahman. They received the
Ekushey Padak in 2000.

Barkat and Jabbar were students of Dhaka University. Rafiq was the son of the owner
of Badamtali Commercial Press. They were killed on Feb 21, 1952. The next day, on
Feb 22, rickshaw puller Salam and High Court employee Shafiur died in police firing.
Two more names are found on the list of deaths on Feb 22, 1952 – Ahualullah and
Abdul Awal. On the website of the International Mother Language Institute, these two
are mentioned as Language Martyrs. Salahuddin’s name has also been recognised as a
Feb 21 martyr in many other places. But they are not officially recognised. The actual
number of Language Martyrs will be unknown to our next generation if the
government does not publish the proper information. The current generation is eager to
know the truth of a pivotal moment in the history of our country and our culture.

Result of language movement:

 On May 7, 1954 the Pakistan government recognizes Bangla as a state language.

 On Feb 26, 1956 the Constituent Assembly passes the first Constitution of Pakistan
recognizing Bangla as a State Language.

 On Feb 29 1956 the constitution changed as “214.(1) The state language of

Pakistan shall be Urdu and Bengali”

 On March 23, 1956The first Constitution of Pakistan comes into effect.

 On March 1 1962 in the constitution of the republic of Pakistan bangle was

claimed as national language.” The national languages of Pakistan are Bengali
and Urdu”

 On March 26, 1971 Bangladesh become an independent nation.

 On Nov 04 1972 in the constitution of Bangladesh it was declared that “The state
language of the republic is Bangla”

Effects of language movement at the present time:

The Language Movement had a major cultural impact on Bengali society. It has
inspired the development and celebration of the Bengali language, literature and
culture. 21 February, celebrated as Language Movement Day orShohid Dibosh
(Martyrs' Day), is a major national holiday in Bangladesh. A month-long event called
the Ekushey Book Fair is held every year to commemorate the movement.Ekushey
Padak, one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh, is awarded annually in
memory of the sacrifices of the movementxvii. Songs such as Abdul Gaffar
Choudhury's Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano, set to music by Shaheed Altaf Mahmud, as
well as plays, works of art and poetry played a considerable role in rousing the people's
emotions during the movement.xviii Since the events of February 1952, poems, songs,
novels, plays, films, cartoons and paintings were created to capture the movement from
varied point of views. Notable artistic depictions include the poems Bornomala, 1969
by Shamsur Rahman, the film Jibon play Kobor by Munier Chowdhury and the novels
Ekushey February by Raihan and Artonaad by Shawkat Osmanxix. Since 1952, 21
February has been observed every year to commemorate the martyrs of the Language
Movement. With UNESCO adopting a resolution on 17 November 1999 proclaiming
21 February as INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY. It is an honour
bestowed by the international community on the Language Movement of Bangladesh.
For this Bangladesh officially sent a proposal to UNESCO to declare 21 February as
"International Mother Language Day." The proposal was supported unanimously at the
30th Amar Dukhini Bornomala and February Theke Neya by Zahir Raihan, the stage.
General Conference of UNESCO held on 17 November 1999xx. From then 21st
February is celebrated as international mother language day. Even Pakistan have to
celebrate this day.
Conclusion:
Although the Language Movement is considered to have laid the foundations for
nationalism in East Pakistan, it also heightened the cultural animosity between the two
wings of Pakistan. In West Pakistan, the movement was seen as a sectional uprising
against Pakistani national interests. The rejection of the "Urdu-only" policy was seen
as a contravention of the Perso- Arabic culture of Muslims and the founding ideology
of Pakistan, the Two-Nation Theory. West Pakistani politicians considered Urdu a
product of Indian Islamic culture, while they saw Bengali as a part of "Hinduized"
Bengali culture. This provoked considerable opposition in West Pakistan. As late as in
1967, Ayub Khan said, "East Bengalis...still are under considerable Hindu culture and
influence." But I think that Bangalee culture is our own culture, and we have to save
this in which way we save our mother tongue in 1952.