If the instant protest against Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s remarks declaring Urdu as the probable state language of Pakistan in March 1948 or the supreme sacrifice of language activists in February 1952 in Dhaka were the spark, the reaction of mass Bangalees across then East Pakistan was the blaze of the movement that turned the entire country into a volcano gradually.

Only seven months after the creation of Pakistan, its founder and first Governor General Jinnaah -- first at the Race Course on 21 March and then at Curzon Hall of Dhaka University on 24 March – said ‘Urdu and Urdu alone’ would be the state language of Pakistan. Soon after the news of his announcement spread around, students across East Pakistan burst into anger and demonstrated on the campuses and streets of their respective cities. They also formed numerous state language action committees to give the movement an organised shape.

In 1952, the bloody gunfire on the agitated students at Dhaka Medical College gate made it clear that the Pakistan establishment would cross all limits of brutality in silencing the legitimate demands of the Bangalees. That time, students’ movement influenced and engaged mass people who brought out processions, arranged rallies and observed hartals across the country protesting the killing in Dhaka and restating their demands of Bangla’s status as the state language.

Unfortunately, the contributions of the language activists of the suburbs did not get much recognition though those sowed the seed of independence for a politically and culturally enriched nation that had remained subservient for centuries.

Narayanganj

Being adjacent to Dhaka, Narayanganj had been a city where political activists were involved in the Language Movement since 11 March 1948 centring on Momtaz Begum. Apart from workers, the participation of women was a remarkable feature of the movement there. Ordinary housewives contributed to funding the movement after saving money from their monthly family expenditure. Besides politician Samsuzzoha, workers’ leaders Almas Ali, Shafi Hossain and Faiz Ahmed led people in the Dandee of the East. East Bengal Legislative Assembly Member Khan Sahib Osman Ali’s support inspired activists as well.

Chattogram

Chattogram was another major city that stormed West Pakistan sympathisers through the pace of its movement. From progressive students, workers, literary figures, intellectuals to politicians, everyone took part in it. Railway workers’ leader Chowdhury Harun-Ur-Rashid, poet Mahbub Ul Alam Chowdhury, author Gopal Biswas, Kabial Ramesh Shil, singer Malay Ghosh Dastidar, Awami Muslim League leaders MA Aziz and Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury, Tamuddun Majlish leader Azizur Rahman and revolutionary Binnod Dasgupta played a key role despite vehement opposition of Muslim League leader Fazlul Quader Chowdhury. Over 40,000 people gathered in a rally in the port city in favour of the demand to make Bangla the state language. It is to be mentioned that as the consequence of the movement, Chief Minister Nurul Amin was humiliated in Chattogram while conducting election campaign in 1954.

Mymensingh

As Mymensingh was close to Dhaka, news of the movement reached there a bit early compared to other areas. Following Jinnah’s remarks in Dhaka in 1948, a protest rally was held in Bipin Park of the city with Rafik Uddin Bhuiyan in the chair. In 1952, the reactions to the 21st February killings were massive there and the movement spread to Trishal, Iswarganj, Kishoreganj, Tangail, Jamalpur and Netrokona. Mymensingh’s movement’s special feature was the donation of law enforcement agency members of police lines.

Rajshahi

Schools and colleges of Rajshahi were the centres of the Language Movement. In 1948, activists arranged a mass rally in the city’s Bhubon Mohan Park under the leadership of Ataur Rahman, Ekramul Haque, Mohammad Sultan, Abul Kashem Chowdhury and Tofazzal Hossain Prodhan. Four years later, new student leaders Ghulam Arieff Tipoo, SA Bari AT, Abul Kalam Chowdhury and MA Gaffar took charge of the movement. A rally was held on 4 February 1952 where Anwarul Azim, Mohsena Begum and Momtazuddin Ahmed addressed the people. Bhubon Mohan Park was the venue of a massive rally following the spontaneous hartal on 21 February. Muslim League Member of the Legislative Assembly Matharbokhs joined it and delivered a fiery speech before getting arrested by police. Later, he resigned from his post. The first Shaheed Minar of the country commemorating language martyrs was established in Rajshahi in 1952.

Bogura

In Bogura, the Language Action Committee, led by poet Ataur Rahman, was formed in 1948. On 11 March of that year, a procession was brought out where Principal Muhammad Shahidullah took part. He also addressed a meeting later. In 1952, activists made a seventeen-member All Party Action Committee with Mojiruddin Ahmed as president and Golam Mohiuddin as secretary. The city witnessed a massive gathering on 23 February. People of all strata, including students, teachers, writers, lawyers, doctors and workers, joined the movement in Bogura, giving it an inclusive look, and spreading it to nearby areas.

Pabna

Students of Edward College initiated the Language Movement in Pabna in 1948. Later, the active participation of Ganatantrik Jubo League, Chhatra League, Chhatra Federation, Communist Party and Chhatra Congress gave it a political shape. They formed an All Party State Language Action Committee nominating Mahbubur Rahman Khan and Aminul Islam Badshah as joint conveners. Established in 1950, progressive cultural organisation Shikha Sangho influenced the whole movement with its different activities. The local administration imposed Section 144 on 20 February but students of Edward College brought out a procession defying government’s restrictions. Of the female students, the names of Sufiya Begum, Jahanara Begum, Nurjahan Begum and Halima Khatun are mentionable. The first Shaheed Minar in Pabna was built in 1954.

Rangpur

The Language Movement in Rangpur also began in 1948 with Motiur Rahman, Idris Lohani, Younus Lohani and Vikhu Chowdhury in the front. Students of Carmichael College stormed the streets of the northern city despite objections from their Urdu-speaking principal. In 1952, the participation of Sufi Motahar Hossain, Shah Tofazzal Hossain, Masuda Chowdhury, Doly Chowdhury and Mili Chowdhury helped the movement gain momentum. Gradually, it spread to Gaibandha, Dholgacha, Patgram, Pirganj, Naldanga, Balabari and Haragacha. Being inspired by the spirit of the Language Movement, a number of cultural groups were formed where Nurul Islam, Ajit Roy, Shamima Zaman and Chitra Dasgupta performed.

Dinajpur

Dinajpur’s distance from Dhaka could not keep it far away from the movement for establishing the honour of Bangla. Under the leadership of Mirza Nurul Huda, Kaderbokhs and Dabirul Islam, students and mass people took to the streets in 1952. The district administration imposed Section 144 but students of Surendranath College brought out a long procession defying the restrictions when the news of the killing in Dhaka reached the city. On 23 February, Mirza Nurul Huda, Dabirul Islam and Abdil Hafiz delivered fiery speeches in a massive rally. Later in 1953, students of Surendranath College built a Shaheed Minar on their campus.

Jashore

Jashore’s movement was more intense in 1948 compared to 1952 as Communist Party was more organised back then. State Language Action Committee consisting of over 100 members was formed in February 1948 with Subir Roy and Alamgir Siddique as joint conveners. Chhatra Federation leaders Subir Roy, Hamida Rahman, Ranajit Mitra and Chhatra League leaders Alamgir Siddique and Syed Afzal Hossain addressed a mammoth rally there. Local administration imposed Section 144 on 10 March to prevent language activists from conducting their programmes but students with the support of Communist Party brought out a long procession overlooking government’s instructions. Police shot fire but no one was killed or injured. In 1952, Jashore’s situation was comparatively peaceful but the movement by the time was spread to Narail, Jhenaidah and Magura mahakuma of the district.

Khulna

Language activists in Khulna had to struggle to conduct their programmes due to strong communal force, led by Sabur Khan and the government’s repression. Initially, Chhatra Federation leaders and Hindu Academy (BL College) students like MA Gafur, AK Shamsuddin Sunu, Tofazzal Hossain, Mizanur Rahim, Nurul Islam Nannu, Malik Atahar and Zahidul Haque organised the movement in the city. Later, youth leaders of Muslim League, including Abu Mohammad Ferdous, MA Jalil and Nurul Islam Dadu, joined them. They observed a spontaneous hartal on 22 February and arranged a rally the following day protesting the killing of students in Dhaka. On 23 February, an eleven-member action committee was formed with MA Gafur as president.

Faridpur

The Language Movement in Faridpur was based on Rajendra College. Partial hartal was observed in the town on 11 March 1948. The government imposed Section 144 but students protested defying it. Syed Mahbub Ali, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Abdul Matin, Mosharraf Ali, Abdul Bari, Adil Uddin Hawlader, Liakat Ali and Molla Jalal Uddin led the movement from the front. In 1952, a State Language Action Committee was formed with Imamuddin Ahmed as president and Monwar Hossain as general secretary. Students in Faridpur observed a day-long hartal on 22 February while police charged batons and arrested a number of them from there. Students cordoned off the police station and staged a sit-in until detained students were released at 12:00am.

Barishal

Southern district Barishal also witnessed the intensity of the Language Movement. Though student leaders Kazi Bahauddin Ahmed, Amiya Kumar Dashgupta, Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Mokhlesur Rahman, Swadesh Basu, Ashraf Ali, Ramijul Haque Chunnu, Mosharref Hossain Nannu, Mohammad Arshed and Hasan Imam Chowdhury were at the forefront, the movement did not succeed in 1948. In 1952, a State Language Action Committee was formed with Abul Hashem as convener. BM College students’ council Vice-president Syed Golam Kibria led the students of his college and played a crucial role in observing hartal on 21 February while over 500 students of AK Institution, led by AKM Azhar Uddin and Asmat Ali Khan, brought out a procession the following day. The participation of women, including Mahe Nur Begum, Hosne Ara Niru, Monjusri and Rani Bhattacharya, added a new dimension there. The first Shaheed Minar in Barishal was built on 24 February though police demolished it three days later.

Noakhali

In 1948, the Language Movement did not reach the expected level in Noakhali district though one of its mahakuma Feni was an exception as a base of Tamuddun Majlish. Feni College students’ council General Secretary Kobbad Ahmed, student leaders Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and ABM Musa led the movement. Then ‘Weekly Sangram’, published from Feni, was banned and its editor Khwaja Ahmed was arrested in 1950 for supporting the movement. Four years later, students of Noakhali also took to the streets, especially in Maijdee and Sonaimuri. They observed a day-long hartal on 21 February. Over 500 students took part in a rally with Master Abul Kashem in the chair. Student leaders Salam Kibria and KM Shamsuddin also addressed the programme.

Cumilla

Since Cumilla’s son Dhirendranath Dutta brought an amendment to include Bangla as the official language of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 25 February 1948, all the leaders of the region stood united for the cause. A rally in support of the demand held in Victoria College was presided over by its student council’s General Secretary Nayeb Ali Chowdhury. Leaders of all political parties, including Muslim League leaders Fariduddin and Anwarul Haque Chowdhury, Chhatra Federation leaders Naresh Chakrabarty, Chhatra Congress leader Shuvash Kar, Chhatra Bureau leaders Mustafizur Rahman and Ajit Roy, and Chhatra Federation General Secretary Dhiren Dutta and leader Nurul Islam Farid, addressed the meeting. They observed hartal on 11 March. In early February 1952, the State Language Action Committee was formed with Cumilla district Awami Muslim League General Secretary Abdur Rahman Khan as convener. It called hartal on 4 February and 21 February. Protesting the killing in Dhaka day-long hartal was observed on 23 February. A mammoth rally was held on the day at the Town Hall field with Jahirul Haque in the chair.

Sylhet

Following the independence of Pakistan, the demand of announcing Bangla as the state language was raised in Sylhet. Muslim Sahitya Samaj, its mouthpiece Al Islah and weekly Nau-Belal   as organisations and publisher Mahmud Ali, editor Dewan Mohammad Azraf and author Syed Mujtaba Ali worked to develop public opinion in favour of Bangla. When Tamuddun Majlish and Muslim Chhatra Federation arranged a rally at the Gobindacharan Park, Muslim League cadres assaulted Maksud Ahmed, Dewan Mohammad Azraf, Abdus Samad and Dewan Ohidur Reza. In 1952, the State Language Action Committee was formed with Peer Habibur Rahman as convener and Mahmud Ali, Nurur Rahman, Moniruddin Ahmed, Hazera Mahmud, Syed Motahar Ali and Abdur Rahim as members. Protesting the killing in Dhaka, several Muslim League leaders, including Mahmud Ali, Abdur Rahim, AZ Abdullah and Motisar Ali, resigned from the party. Sylhet Merchant Association observed a day-long hartal and the State Language Action Committee brought out a mourning procession and arranged a protest rally on 22 February at Gobindacharan Park with Sylhet Bar Association Secretary Mohammad Abdullah BL in the chair. Women of Sylhet organised a rally on 23 February at the same venue. Begum Hazera Mahmud addressed the meeting presided over by Jobeda Khatun. Later, on 5 March, the State Language Action Committee arranged a rally at Gobindacharan Park chaired by Advocate Abu Ahmed Abdul Hafiz. Mahmud Ali, Dabiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Tera Mia, Moazzem Ahmed Chowdhury, Abdul Bari, Abul Maal Abdul Muhit and Motisar Ali delivered speeches there.