Branding Bangladesh in Tourism

Twenty first February, International Mother Language Day, proclaims the valiant history of the martyrs who gave their life for their mother tongue. On this day 1952, students and teachers of Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical College and people from other adjacent areas came to the street violating section 144 to protest against the injustice of not declaring Bangla as the state language along with Urdu. So many people were gunned down and many others were arrested during this procession. Today, the world remebers the day for those heroes who did not dare to give life in order to hold their mother tongue in the high place.

Background

The separation of subcontinent make the people of Pakistan vulnerable as the two parts of the country, East Pakistan and West Pakistan were separated by thousand hostile miles of India. The power was also in the hand of West Pakistani leaders which made the people of East Pakistan deprived of their basic rights. As a new country, Pakistan had to prepare a new constitution. But, before this task they had to determine the state language of the nation. As the power was in the hand of West Pakistan, they tried to neglect the language of the majority – Bangla and decided to make Urdu as the state language. This decision made an unrest situation in East Pakistan. As the days passed, the situation worsened and a deep seeded feeling of hatred between East and West Pakistan was generated.

The recommendation of Urdu be the only state language of Pakistan by The Basic Principles Committee of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan sparked off a resentment in the widely spoken Bangla region. They prepared themselves for a movement under the Leadership of Malana Bhasani. On January, 1952 a committee named ‘All Party State Language Committee’ was formed to take the movement forward. 21 February, 1952, the budget session day for East Pakistan was chosen by the committee to have meeting and procession and was to be observed as The State Language Day. They also planned to have strike on that day.

The Muslim League Government imposed section 144 on the evening of 20 february. Any kinds of procession, gathering, and meeting were prohibited. They wanted to prevent the people in observing the next day as the State Language Day. A meeting was held by the committee members of the ‘All Party State Language Committee’. There were arguments on the decision whether they would go to street breaking section 144 or not. At last they decided not to break section 144. But students of Dhaka University, Dhaka Medical College and Engineering University did not agree with the decision. They decided to have procession and meeting breaking section 144. At night student leaders of Dhaka University were informed that, a meeting will be held at the steps of Fazlul Haq Hall of Dhaka University. In that meeting they decided to break the section 144 without having the fear of facing death. At the morning of 21 February 10 person’s procession began to come out to the street. Immediately, they were arrested by police forces. But, they did not give up. They came to the streets breaking the section 144. Meanwhile, there was a meeting of ministers and members of assembly to be held at 3 pm. Students decided to stop the persons from going to the meeting. As they tried, police from a hidden place started firing on them. They also threw tear gas at the students. Several students died on the spot, some were severely injured and many of them were arrested. As the news broke out all around the country, people bursted into anger and they came to the street for protesting such a gruffly handled situation. The government put curfew from 3 pm on the similar day and militay troops came to street for patrolling.

Students who were recognised to be dead were Salam, Barkat, Shafiq and more on. The government press acknowledged 3 deaths which were more in real. For the following days the procession. Rally and protest went on across the whole country with more deaths and wounds. The anger of such a brutal killing simmered which led the country to an unrest situation.

At the night of 21 February the general secretary of the Student Union and others decided to built a Monument in rememberance of the martyrs. The first monument is not the present one. It took only one night to build the monument and was inaugurated by the father of late Language Leader, Shafiur Rahman. This monument was broken by the armed police on 26 February 1952. The present monument was established later.

After a long period of time, for the initiatives of some patriot Bangladeshis and Bangladesh Government 21 February was declared as The International Mother Language Day by UNESCO on 17 November 1999.

How the day is observed

Such an incident like giving life for the mother is a unique one in the world. Bangladeshis are very proud that they are such a nation who always has gathered under one umbrella for the sake of their national interest. The day is observed by mourning for the martyrs through different kinds of programs.

On the day of 21 February people from all level of the country join the Provat Feri where the walk with a long queue and place floral wreath at Shahid Minar situated beside Dhaka Medical College. Usually, it starts from 12 am when the Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh puts their floral wreath at Shahid Minar in remembrance of the language Martyrs. Later on, the leader of opposition parties and other political figures show their respect those valiant Bangalees. Mass people, students from different institutions, cultural organizations come to Shaid Minar early in the morning to show their respect singing the song ‘Amar vayer rokte rangano Ekushe February, ami ki vulite pare ( can I forget my brother’s blood shedded 21 February)’ and by giving floral wreath at the Bedi of Shahid Minar.

Cultural programs are held at different places all over the country. Music remembering the Language Martyrs can be heard all over the place. People wear on black dresses and badges on arm. The National Flag is half hoisted on this day.

As it is declared International Mother Language Day, people all over the world observes the day in befitting manner since 1998. UNESCO arranges special program on this day. They prepare atlas of world’s endangered languages and also arrange seminar od the eve of the day.