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Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his contributions in Language Movement of Bangladesh : A review Obaidullah Al Mamoon Research Scholar, Raiganj University Prof. Anil Bhuimali Vice-Chancellor,Raiganj University Dr. Tapas Pal Assistant Professor, Raiganj University
Abstract: Though Bangabandhu and Bangladesh are two different words, but they are the same in terms of their name. They cannot imagine without each others. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became as the icon of Independence of Bangladesh and also as the hero of the nation. There is no substitute for a parent in a society to nourish and make their child into a good human being and similarly there is no any alternative like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh. The Bengali linguistic People of the Indian subcontinent and the people of present Bangladesh did so many movements and struggled to get their separate independent country for Bengali people. Being the leader of independence of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu issued 35 directives on 15th March 1971. Bangabandhu officially hoisted the flag of Independent Bangladesh at his residence on 23rd March 1971. The freedom fighters of Bangladesh declared independence of the country before being arrested on March 25. During that time freedom was achieved by the exchange of 30 lakh Martyrs and 2 lakh dignity of mothers and sisters in absence of Bangabandhu. Finally, after 9 months the soul of the revolutionary people fulfilled with the joy of victory on 16 December. The contribution and participation in different types of movement activities and also with the development of entire Bangladesh are connected simultaneously which has made his as the father of the nation of Bangladesh.
Key words: Substitute, Linguistic, Indian Subcontinent, Directives, Martyrs, Dignity, Revolution. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. National language movement is a historical and important event in our national history. Being captured the way of language movement, Bangladesh acquired its independence and sovereignty in 1971. First of all, this great language movement was started consequently in the year of 1947 after partitioning of the country, India and Pakistan. But, this movement of 1948 took its definitive form that violently exploded on 21st February of 1952. This movement fulfilled its complete form in 1956 through the implementation of Bengali language as the national language based on the condition basis of Pakistani constitution. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman has a great contribution in this language movement. From the starting period of the beginning and up to last of the language movement of 1947; even in the last days of his life, he devoted himself for the issuing of Bengali language to every stage and for the establishment of Bengali language. On the observing convocation of the workers of East Pakistan „Democratic Yuba League’ was formed on 6th and 7th September of 1947 at Dhaka. On that convocation, some proposals related to language movement were accepted. These proposals were read by the leader of that day, Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman. Having proposed the proposal of language movement, he said that “East Pakistan worker conference was proposing that Bengali language should be done as the medium of writing and language of offices and judgeships. „Tamuuddin Majlish’ set up on 1st September of 1947. At first, they published the announcement of language movement on15th September. After that, national language struggle council assembled on 31st December. After returning to East Pakistan from India,
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Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman directly involved in the language movement. At the initial stage of language movement, he participated in the different types of works related to national language movement of Tamooddin Majlish. At the time period of the continuation of the meeting of Muslim League working committee at the residence of Khaja Naimuddins, he participated in the organized procession for the demand of implementation of Bengali language as the national language on 5th December of 1947 and was involved himself as the leader of the movement.
Plate: Researcher Obaidullah al Mamoon and supervisor Dr. Tapas Pal are interacting with the contemporary students of Bangladesh in front of Sahid Minar, Dhaka.
After that period, „Muslim Student League‟ of East Pakistan constructed on 4th January of 1948. This organization had a great contribution in the history of language movement. The demand of implementation of Bengali language as the another national language of Pakistan and the appointment of Bengalis to the Defence Force and the demand of mandatory learning of force were the another demand among the 10 round demand of student League which was settled on 4th January of 1948 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman. On 23rd February of 1948, the proposal was cancelled when it was given by the councillor, Dhirendra nath Dutta at the meeting of general council of Pakistan for the affiliation of Bengali language with the language Urdu and English as the language of general council. In this event, a strike acquitted at Dhaka on 26th February on being called by the agitated leaders of language movement. Dr. Majhraul Islam proclaimed about the contribution of the strike of 26th February of Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman, “Here, it was mentionable that Sheikh Mujibur provided a strong leadership to arrange totally and controlling of this procession.” In the name of „Tamauddin Majlish‟ and the sub-committee of „united national language of East Pakistan Muslim student League‟, 2nd national language struggle council established on 2nd March of 1948. This was the only join forum council of all parties. jointly formed the 2nd national language struggle assembly in 11th march, 1948. This was the first Sarbadaliya assembly. There were present lots of people within the Muslim hall of Fajllul Haque, among them were Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman, Samsul Haque, Ali Ahad, MD Toahaha, Abul Kashem, Ranesh Dasgupta, Ajit Guha etc.
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11th march is a red-letter day of language movement in 1948. In that day the strike was completed fosterling for the demand of „Bangla Rastra Bhasa’ (Bengali as the National language). This was the first successful strike on the history of language movement in Pakistan after partitioning. This strike was command by Bangabandhu and then he was arrested by police. In the history of Pakistani politics it was his first apprehension. To do the strike successful they had published a notice through advertisement in 1st march 1948, where various member were signed namely Professor Abul Kashem, Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman, Naimuddin Ahamed, and Abul Rahaman Chowdhury etc. 16th march in 1948, at Bot tola in Dhaka University a general assembly was done, aimed to impetuous of language movement. At the end of this meeting a rally goes on the way of East Pakistan‟s law assembly Bhawan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman was the president of that meeting. For evoke of Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman to hedge the law Assembly Bhawan (Hall) the rally was clogged by police.
In the history of language movement, the date on 11th March of 1948 was a unique and memorable day. On that day a universal general strike was observed in demanding the Bengali language as the national language. This was the first successful strike of this country in the history of language movement after the establishment of Pakistan. In this strike, Bangabandhu provided as the leadership and on being haunted by the tortures of the police, he was also handcuffed. To make successful the strike of 11th March, a statement was published on 1st March of 1948 on the mass media. Many people like Professor Abul Kashem, Sheik Mujibur Rahaman, Naiuddin Ahmed and Abdur Rahaman etc. signed on this statement. On the aim of making rapidness to language movement, a general universal student meeting observed under the banyan tree of Dhaka University. After the meeting, a procession came out towards the Law Council Hall of East Bengal. On this meeting, recently discharged leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman presided on the meeting. On the lobbied of Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman, the procession was fallen in front of the hindrance of the police to confine the Law Council Hall. At the time of extreme exploitation of language movement in 1952, he was in jail. Although he was personally absent on political field but he regularly communicated to agitators and advised them. In this rejecter, Gaziul Haque wrote on his biography, “After the period of being arrested on the month of August of 1952, Janab Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman had detained in various jails up to February of 1952. Therefore, it was impossible for Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman to take part actively on language movement. Though he was present in jail in those days, but he maintained his connectivity with leaders of the movement and differently advised them.”
Plate : Dr. Tapas Pal (2018) is watching the great caption of Banga Bandhu at side of Sahid Minar of Dhaka. The development and the existence of Bangladesh was based on this caption.
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Even after the year of 1952, Bangabandhu did not go having left the Bengali language. After the success of language movement, his contribution in language movement was indisputable. He roared in the assembly to dignify the Bengali language as the national language, to inseminate Bengali language in the entire layers and with the reference to the starting of Bengali language in daily works of parliament and also played a role as like as a hero. Bangabandhu had also a great contribution in observing the first ceremony of 21st February of 1953 on the 1st anniversary of 21st February. In that particular day, Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman was present in front of all the movements, processions and leadership. On the observing meeting of Armanitola, he made a lobbied on that to declare an announcement of 21st February as the „Martyr Day‟ and also made a demand for implementation of the Bengali language as the national language.
After exploitation of language movement in 1952, he set up a united forum making the sensation of language movement. As a government minister of united front in the year of 1954, he applied for the contemporary politics and also for the development of Bengali language. After that period he performed to lift up more violently with the same demand of Bengali language to the people of the world and about the rights of Bengalis of East Pakistan. All the responsibilities of the language related problems depended on Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman until his death as an assiduous attendant of Bengali language for the development of Bengali language and as successful and also eligible leader of starting of Bengali language to all the layers of the society. This great leader acquired the acceptance of Bengali language to the court of world and identified Bengali language and the Bengali speaking people at the international courtyard. The history of giving lecture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman in Bengali language on the universal stage of United Nations was remained with the golden alphabets. Having given a lecture on the stage of United Nations in Bengali, Sheikh Mujubur Rahaman inseminated first the seeds of Bengali language. On the observing conference of law council on 17th January of 1956, Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman demanded that daily works of parliament would be printed in Bengali language. On the conference of 7th February of same year, he said in the question of included draft of constitution, “We do not understand as the national language of East Bengal. The words which were used in the draft of constitution were used for bad purpose. Fifty six percent people of Pakistan used in Bengali language and having memorized, he stated that for the question of national language, there would not be played any tricks. The people of East Bengal also demanded that Bengali should be implemented as the national language.” At the conference of law council on16th February, he demanded Bengali as the national language.
Plate : Language Researcher Obaidullah Al Mamoon has observed the reviews of language movement on wall arts & painting at side of the walls of Sahid Minar of Dhaka. These wall
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paintings reflect that contemporary Bangladesh is reminding their history of language movement.
In the constitution of 1972, he accepted Bengali as the national language of Bangladesh. It was the first compiled constitution in the history of the world. He established Bengali working committee on the government level in the year of 1973 when he was to able to capture the power of government. An article which was constructed by Bengali working committee of governmental level was published on daily newspaper in the month of February of 1973. It was said in this that, „Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman has decided that no any official paper and others papers would not be able to submit to him if it has not written in Bengali‟. When Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman was the president of Bangladesh on 12th March of 1975, he first ordered governmentally the issuance of Bengali language as the national language of Bangladesh. The date 15th August of 1975 is recognized as the black day of Bangladesh and also as national distress day. In the history of this day, the father of nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman was died with his entire family. In the national movement of Bangladesh, the justification of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman was avoided by many writers, researchers and politicians. They have tried to lee his contributions in language movement being represent much wry information about him and he gave chance to the opponent for criticizing him. The newly published incomplete biography of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman would stop such kind of criticism. Reminiscing of Bangabandhu from this book can remove our all confusions.
Plate : Dr. Tapas Pal and Mayor Mizanur Rahman of Chouudagram Municipality are in front of Banga Bandhu Square of Chouudagram of Bangladesh. Still the development of Bangladesh is attached with the contributions of Banga Bandhu.
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References: Ahmed, Moudud. (1984). Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. F. Steiner University of Michigan Ali, S. M. (1973). After the Dark Night: Problems of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Thomson Press (India) Chowdhury, G. W. (1994). The Last Days of United Pakistan. University Press. Hussain, Aklam. (1997). History of Bangladesh, 1704-1971, Volume 2, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Karim, S. A. (2009). Sheikh Mujib: Triumph and Tragedy. University Press. Maprayil, Cyriac. (2001). Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: The Founding Father of Bangladesh, Reliance Publishing House. Rahman, Sheikh Mujibur. (2013). Unfinished Memoirs. University Press Limited. Bangladesh. Siṃha, Maṇi. (1988). Life is a Struggle. People's Publishing House
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