The history of Language Movement in Srimangal

Sangram Datta: After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the first session of the Constituent Assembly was held on February 25, 1948. In that session, Congress party member Dhirendranath Datta proposed that Bengali, alongside Urdu and English, should be allowed in the proceedings of the Assembly.

Mr. Datta argued that out of Pakistan’s 69 million people, over 40 million spoke Bengali—meaning the majority spoke Bengali. Therefore, Bengali should not just be considered a provincial language but should also be one of the state languages.

However, Mr. Datta's amendment proposal was rejected in the Assembly. Even the Bengali members of the Assembly could not support him due to objections from their parliamentary party. In protest, students in Dhaka boycotted classes and went on strike. 

On 11 March 1948, 'Language Day' was observed in East Bengal.

In April 1948, the East Bengal Legislative Assembly decided to use Bengali in provincial government affairs. 

Three years later in March of 1951, movements were organized across East Pakistan demanding Bengali as the state language. 

In Srimangal (Sreemangal), students of Victoria High School played a pioneering role in observing this movement. 

Local political leaders also provided support, encouragement, and cooperation in rallies and meetings demanding Bengali as the state language.Student leaders such as Jogendra Datta, Rasendra Datta, Biraj Kusum Chowdhury, Akhil Chandra Dhar, Shyamal Sengupta, Achyut Kumar Deb, Dr. Fazlul Haque, Md. Masaddar Ali and Syed Matiur Rahman led the protests. They were supported by political figures, including Md. Israil Mia of the Muslim League, Communist Party leaders Suryamani Dev, Ajit Chowdhury, K.B. Dev Chowdhury (Khirad Bihari Dev Chowdhury), and Bimal Jyoti Chowdhury.

After Jinnah's death in September 1948, Khwaja Nazimuddin became the Governor-General, but he did not take any initiative to protect the interests of Bengali-speaking people.

On 27 November 1949, then-leaders of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) submitted a memorandum to Pakistan's Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan demanding Bengali as the state language. However, as the demand was not met, the people of Bengal especially students intensified their movement.

This eventually turned into a bloody revolutionary struggle, culminating massacre of 21 February 1952 when police opened fire in Dhaka, killing Rafique, Jabbar, Salam, Barkat, and many unnamed protesters. The streets and campus of Dhaka University were stained with their blood. The students’ sacrifices ignited a fierce movement nationwide.

In this struggle, students of Sreemangal played a leading role. Inspired by revolutionary ideals, student activists organized protests across Sreemangal covering the town with posters and rallying people with slogans such as:

"The blood of Rafique, Jabbar, Barkat, and Salam will not go in vain!, Blood for blood, revenge for murder !, We demand the execution of Nurul Amin, the traitor of Bengal !, We want Bengali as the state language!"

The protests received overwhelming support from Hindus and Muslims alike with people of all ages taking to the streets. 

A massive public meeting was held at Sreemangal Municipality ground, presided over by Syed Matiur Rahman. Leaders such as Rasendra Datta, Md. Shahjahan, Akhil Chandra Dhar, Sajjadur Rahman, and Balai Bhattacharya spoke at the rally, demanding the execution of those responsible for the killings and the immediate recognition of Bengali as the state language.

In 1954, the language issue became a key factor in the provincial elections, leading to the victory of the United Front and the downfall of the ruling Muslim League, which had suppressed the language movement. Eventually, under growing pressure, the Pakistani government officially recognized both Bengali and Urdu as state languages in 1956.

To honor the memory of Rafique, Jabbar, Barkat, Salam, and those who died in the Balishira peasant movement in Sreemangal (Including Ganu and Salik, who were shot by police on 19 February 1963), a Shaheed Minar (Martyrs’ Monument) was established at Sreemangal town committee premises in 1969. This initiative was led by leaders such as Md. Shahjahan, Student leaders Syed Mujibur Rahman, Syed Muizur Rahman, Student's union founder G.S and later Awami League leader Mohammed Elias, Md. Altafur Rahman Chowdhury, Student League leader M.A Rahim ( Former Srimangal Pourashava Chairman and eminent Awami League leader), Mohammed Shamsuddin, tea planter Md. Muklesur Rahman and others despite opposition from the ruling Muslim League. The Shaheed Minar, built at the Municipal Town Committee field, later became the central Martyrs’ Monument of Sreemangal. 

Since then, Every year on February 19, February 21, National Day, Martyred Intellectuals’ Day, and Victory Day, various organizations in Sreemangal pays tribute to the martyrs by placing floral wreaths at the monument.