Language Movement

Emergence of Bangladesh

Presented by Presented to

Samin Hossain 2013666630

Muhammed Ali Prohor 1931310630

Dr. Atique Rahman Sir
Nafees Sadnan 2013321030
 Introduction
1
 The Bengali Language Movement was a political movement in East Pakistan in 1952. It was
for the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language to be used in Pakistan in
order to allow its use in government affairs, in education, in media, for currency and for
stamps, and to maintain its writing in the Bengali script

 The students of the University of Dhaka and other political activists defied the law and
organised a protest on 21 February 1952. The movement reached its climax when police killed
student demonstrators on that day. The deaths provoked widespread civil unrest. After years of
conflict, the central government relented and granted official status to the Bengali language in
1956.
 West Pakistan had all the decision making power

 English and Urdu advocated to be sole state languages

 Bengali students protested decision

 Educated society of East Bengal adversely impacted

 Students organized strike for their demands

 Political leaders took part but faced a disastrous outcome

 CM Nazimuddin signed an accord to some terms and conditions but not the
demand of Bangla being made state language

 Governor-General of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah reaffirmed Urdu as

state language several times in his visit to Dhaka

 On 27 January 1952, governor-general Khawaja Nazimuddin, again defended

the "Urdu-only" policy in a speech proposal of writing the Bengali language
in Arabic script was heavily opposed
 Action committee called for an all out protest on 21 February

 Government imposed Section 144 in Dhaka to prevent the demonstration

 Students gathered on the University of Dhaka premises in defiance of Section

144

 Students attempted to break the police line, Police fired tear gas shells
towards the gate to warn the students

 Police arrested several students

 Group of students sought to storm into the building, police opened fire and
killed a number of students, including Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed,
Sofiur Rahman, Abul Barkat and Abdul Jabbar
 2
Causes

The Constituent Assembly in 1948

 Khwaja Nazimuddin’s false agreement

with the students
Liaqat Ali Khan and Khwaja Nazimuddin
They opposed Dr. Dhirendranath Dutta’s motion for
including Bangla language in the assembly
 The Causes

The absence of Bangla letters in coins

M u h a m m a d A l i J i n n a h ’s s p e e c h o n U r d u t o b e t h e s t a t e l a n g u a g e
Absence of Bangla letters in stamps
 3
Impacts
Inspired millions to fight for and protect
their language
Creation of several protest organizations
An amendment in Pakistan's Constitution
where both
Bangla and Urdu were considered as a
state language.
6-Point Movement and Liberation War
Ekushey book fair to celebrate the richness and culture in our language UNESCO adopted 21st February as the International Mother Language
Day

Shahid Minar: A memorial for the martyrs of

the Language Movement
THANK YOU