February (21 February) plays an important role in making Bengalis aware of their cultural and national heritage and the background to the rise of Bengali nationalism. 21 February is observed as Martyrs’ Day in Bangladesh and, since 2000, observed as International Mother Language Day. Even before the creation of Pakistan in 1947, there had been demands that Bangla be made the state language of Pakistan.
Like in July 1947, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah suggested that, after the departure of the British, Bangla could be made the state language of the new state. After the creation of Pakistan, a new committee to fight for Bangla as the state language was formed with Shamsul Huq as convener.
It is to be noted that out of the 69 million population of Pakistan, 44 million were from East Pakistan with Bangla as their mother tongue. On 11 March 1948 a general strike was observed in the towns of East Pakistan in protest against the omission of Bangla from the languages of the Constituent Assembly, the absence of Bangla letters in Pakistani coins and stamps, and the use of only Urdu in recruitment tests for the navy.
The movement also reiterated the earlier demand that Bangla be declared one of the state languages of Pakistan and the official language of East Pakistan. Amidst processions, picketing and slogans, leaders such as Shawkat Ali, Kazi Golam Mahboob, Shamsul Huq, Oli Ahad, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Father of the Nation), Abdul Wahed and others were arrested. Student leaders, including Abdul Matin and abdul malek ukil, also took part in the procession and picketing. In March 1948, Governor General Mohammed Ali Jinnah arrived in East Pakistan.
On 21 March 1948, at a public meeting in Dhaka, Governor General of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah declared that Urdu alone would be the state language of Pakistan. Subsequently, Khwaja Nazimuddin, Prime Minister of Pakistan visited East Pakistan in January 1952. On 27 January, at a public meeting, he reiterated Jinnah’s pronouncement that Urdu would be the only state language of Pakistan. In protest, on 30 January, students of the Dhaka University pledged to carry on the language movement. As a part of that a strike was observed in all educational institutions on February 4, 1952 and planned for a province-wide strike on 21 February. The government, on its part, invoked Section 144 of Penal Code on 20 February, banning public meetings, rallies and processions. But the student community defied Section 144 and tried to proceed towards the Provincial Assembly where a session of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly was about to begin. The policemen tried to disperse the students by firing blanks.
When this failed, the police fired into the crowd. In the firing students namely Abul barkat, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar, Abdus Salam and two others were killed in the firing that day. The reaction to the police killings was immediate and schools and colleges held protest meetings, rallies and processions all over the country. To bring the situation under control, the government enforced a curfew and deployed the army in Dhaka.
Nevertheless, the movement for the recognition of Bangla as a state language gained momentum. After the resounding victory of the United Front in the election of 1954, Bangla was recognised as one of the state languages of Pakistan at a session of the National Assembly on 9 May 1954. Till 1971, the day was observed spontaneously, and served as an occasion to revive the feelings of nationalism and Bengali nationhood. After the liberation of Bangladesh, 21st February became a national holiday. At one minute past midnight on 21 February, the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh, members of the cabinet, staff of diplomatic missions in Dhaka, political leaders, representatives of various institutions and organisations etc pay homage to the language martyrs. Throughout the day, people of all ages and from all walks of life visit the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for Bangla.
Walking slowly, they sing the mournful notes of the elegy, ‘Amar bhaiyer rakte rabgano ekushey february ami ki bhulite pari’ (Can I forget 21 February reddened with the blood of my brothers?). Apart from this famous song, many poets have written poems on 21 February. In commemoration of the day, Bangla Academy holds a month-Long Book Fair and organises literary and cultural events throughout the month. Special programmes are broadcast and telecast highlighting the importance of the day. Different cultural organisations also arrange various functions. Newspapers publish special supplements. International Mother Language Day International Mother Language Day was introduced by the UNESCO in recognition of the sanctity and preservation of all vernacular languages in the world.
The background to the proclamation of the International Mother Language Day was a proposal from Bangladesh at the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on 17 November 1999 to declare 21 February as an International Day on the ground that on this day many had sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue. The Paris Conference was convinced that one of the most effective ways to promote and develop mother tongues was the establishment of an International Mother Language Day throughout the world with a view to organising various activities in the member states and a language exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters on the same day.
The day the Conference chose for the purpose was 21 February. This was, indeed, in appreciation and recognition of the unprecedented sacrifice made by the Bangla-speaking people of Bangladesh for the cause of their Mother Tongue on 21 February 1952. The Paris meet also put on record how solemnly the people of Bangladesh have been observing the day as Martyrs’ Day ever since 1952, and how the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has been observing the day as a special national day since its emergence as an independent state in 1971. Bangladesh’s commitment to the promotion and preservation of all mother tongues is enshrined in the foundation of a national institute in Dhaka called the International Mother Tongue Institute) in 2001.
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