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

Test your knowledge of the Bangladesh Language Movement, a pivotal moment in the country's history. Learn about the slogans and demands that shaped the movement.