নিজ ভাষার অধিকার ও বাংলা সম্পর্কে বঙ্গবন্ধু
২১ সেপ্টেম্বর ১৯৫৫
করাচী
The constituent assembly of Pakistan:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sir, there is a procedure going on in this house that if a member wants to speak in any other language, whether in Pushto or Bengali, he is allowed to do that. Our Speaker allowed an Honourable Member to speak in Pushto but he did not understand Pushto. So, why should you violate the procedure that has been laid down by the Speaker, for the few minutes that you are occupying that chair?
Therefore, I would request you to revise your ruling and allow Honourable Members to speak in Bengali which is going to be one of the State languages of Pakistan. It is a very serious matter for us and here nobody can force us not to speak in our own mother-tongue. I will here and now speak in Bengali and nobody can prevent me from doing that. If you are not going to allow us to speak in Bengali, then all the Awami League members will have no alternative but to walk out of the House, as a protest.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Bengali is also an official language.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Will the Honourable Member please make a declaration that he is unable to express himself adequately either in English or in Urdu and that he wishes to speak in his mother-tongue.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: That question does not arise at all.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: We want to speak in Bengali here, whether we know any other language or not it matters little for us. If we feel that we can express ourselves in Bengali, we will speak always in Bengali even though we can speak in English also. If that is not allowed, we will leave the House, but Bengali should be allowed in this House; that is our stand.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), p. 18-29, Dhaka, Agami Prakashani