Ahmad Istiak

The tale of a fearless freedom fighter from Old Dhaka

On March 24, 1971, the day before the Pakistani army unleashed the infamous “Operation Searchlight,” its top brass flew to Chattogram Cantonment from Dhaka.

This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the 1952 Language Movement. Drawing on research based on various published books, this 21-part series tells the story of the historic struggle for our mother tongue.

This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the 1952 Language Movement. Drawing on research based on various published books, this 21-part series tells the story of the historic struggle for our mother tongue.

This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the 1952 Language Movement. Drawing on research based on various published books, this 21-part series tells the story of the historic struggle for our mother tongue.

Since the British rule, Brahmanbaria had been regarded as the cultural hub of East Bengal. So, it was no surprise that when the news of the language movement reached the district, Brahmanbaria became heavily involved and played a pivotal role.

It was in the newspapers of Sylhet that the first demands for Bangla as the state language were raised.

The arrival of approximately 50,000 Urdu-speaking Biharis in Dinajpur, Parbatipur and Syedpur  after the 1947 Partition created a new social dynamic.

On February 27, 1948, some days after Dhirerandranath Datta’s proposal of Bangla as the state language was opposed by the Muslim League, a protest meeting was held in Khulna’s Daulatpur College.

The Language Movement inspired creative expressions of resistance in Kurigram. Travelling singing groups wove humorous dialogues demanding Bangla as the state language into their songs. Baul singers infused their melodies with the powerful slogans of the movement. Theatre troupes, in turn, poignantly depicted the sacrifices made by the martyrs on stage

Despite the petition by opposing groups demanding Urdu as the state language, the intense wave of the Language Movement swept through Kishoreganj in 1948.

The wave of the Language Movement reached Cox’s Bazar after Farid Ahmed, a teacher from the southeastern district, raised his voice. The lecturer of Dhaka Intermediate College was scolded by Pakistan’s Chief Secretary Aziz Ahmed for joining demonstrations in December 1947 against the omission of Bangla from Pakistan Public Service exams.

February 21, 1952. Cumilla town. The local student community, like the rest of the country, takes out a procession in support of the Language Movement. As protesters pass through a Bihari (non-Bangalee) colony, several residents attack the procession with knives. At least 15 students were injured. As soon as the news spread, students from all over town took to the streets.

The students and people of Mymensingh observed spontaneous general strikes, processions and rallies in 1948 and 1952, resisting the Pakistan government’s bid to declare Urdu as the state language by omitting Bangla.

The 1948 Language Movement had a more pronounced impact in Feni, then a part of Noakhali, compared to other areas within the district.

When the Language Movement started to create a huge stir across the country in 1948, the Government Azizul Haque College and its Principal linguist Dr Muhammad Shahidullah played a crucial role in organising the protests in Bogura for Bangla as a state language.

Public sentiment in Kushtia began to shift in favour of the Language Movement towards the end of 1951. .Local political leaders, including Advocate Abdul Haque, Syed Altaf Ali, and Dr Abul Kashem, alongside student leaders like Shahida Khatun, played a crucial role in mobilising public opi

The flames of the Language Movement spread across Rangpur since 1948.

The upsurge of the Language Movement reached Tangail in 1948, with the people and students launching a protest on February 23 over the Pakistan government’s stance against the demand for Bangla as a state language..Muslim League leader Shamsul Haque went to Tangail from Dhaka in the first

During the 1948-1952 Language Movement, the people of Pabna defied the authority’s oppressive measures and fought to recognise their mother tongue.