Language Movement in Bangladesh

A story of language movement

The language movement was a political and cultural movement in the 1940s and 1950s, centered in the eastern region of Bengal, in what was then the British Indian province of Bengal and later, East Pakistan and modern-day Bangladesh. It was a protest against the imposition of the Urdu language as the sole official language of the then East Pakistan by the ruling West Pakistan. The movement demanded the recognition of Bangla, the native language of the majority of the people in East Pakistan, as a national and official language.

On February 21st, 1952, students organized a peaceful rally in Dhaka, the capital of East Pakistan, to protest the government's decision. The police opened fire on the rally, killing several students and sparking nationwide outrage. This event is now remembered as International Mother Language Day.

Despite opposition and repression, the language movement gained widespread support and eventually succeeded in its demand. Bangla was recognized as one of the two national languages of East Pakistan in 1956. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Bangla was made the sole official language of the country.

The language movement is considered a turning point in the history of Bangladesh and is celebrated as a symbol of national identity and cultural heritage.