Bangladesh Language Movement

Language Movement Slogans

• Rashtrabhasha Bangla Chai (We want Bangla as the state language)
• Nimno maner chal ar lobon, daridrotai ajke nimojjito Bangla…amader mukher vasha kere niona

Background

• The central leaders and Urdu-speaking intellectuals of Pakistan declared Urdu as the state language of Pakistan
• East Pakistan demanded Bangla as the official language and medium of instruction in East Pakistan and as one of the state languages along with Urdu

1st Phase of the Movement

• The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was in session at Karachi from 23 February 1948
• Dhirendranath Datta proposed an amendment to include Bangla as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly
• The motion was rejected by the central leaders, including Liaquat Ali Khan and Khwaja Nazimuddin

Formation of the Language Action Committee

• The Dhaka University Language Action Committee was formed on 11 March 1950 with Abdul Matin as its convener
• The committee was formed in response to the rejection of the motion to include Bangla as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly

Final Phase

• The Language Movement took a serious turn by the beginning of 1952
• Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan had died, and Khwaja Nazimuddin had succeeded Liaquat Ali Khan as prime minister of Pakistan
• The economic condition in East Pakistan had deteriorated, and the people started losing faith in the Muslim League
• A new party, the Awami Muslim League, was formed under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani in 1949

Key Events of 1952

• Khwaja Nazimuddin addressed a meeting at Paltan Maidan on 27 January 1952, saying that only Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan
• The students responded with the slogan, 'Rashtrabhasha Bangla Chai' (We want Bangla as the state language)
• A strike was observed at Dhaka University on 30 January 1952
• An All-Party Central Language Action Committee was formed with Kazi Golam Mahboob as its convener
• The government proposed that Bangla be written in Arabic script, which was vehemently opposed
• The Language Action Committee decided to call a hartal and organise demonstrations and processions on 21 February 1952

Bloody 21st February

• The government imposed Section 144 in Dhaka, banning all assemblies and demonstrations
• Student protesters vowed to break Section 144
• Police opened fire at the student protesters

Outcome

• The East Bengal Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution recommending the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan
• The Language Movement continued until 1956
• The movement achieved its goal by forcing the Pakistan Constituent Assembly to adopt both Bangla and Urdu as the state languages of Pakistan on 16 February 1956