Morning News
15th May 1964
MUJIB REJECTS
AYUB’S PLEA ON
SCRIPT ISSUE
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, General Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League, said in Dacca yesterday that if the “Languange issue”, which had been settled once for all, was reopened the people of East Pakistan would be compelled to demand Bengali as the only state language of Pakistan.
In a statement issued to the press yesterday, the Awami League leader expressed his shock at the suggestion of President Ayub that Arabic script should replace the Bengali and Urdu scripts for furthering national integration.
Rejecting President Ayub’s arguments, he said that although the European countries had been using common Roman scripts there existed no amount of integration in the continent. Similar was the case in the Middle-East also, he said.
Recalling the language movement, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that the move to impose Arabic script in 1951 by the then ruling coterie was successfully resisted although it had meant the sacrifice of some young lives. If the issue was reopened, Sheikh Mujib said, it would only hamper the national integration.
Expressing apprehension at the move the Awami League leader appealed to the people of East Pakistan to be alert and vigilant against any possible developments.
AYUB CONGRATULATED
An APP message from Karachi Adds: A large number of messages have been received by the President’s Secretariat congratulating President Ayub Khan on his recent declaration regarding adoption of the Quranic script for Urdu and Bengali languages, it was authoritatively learned.
Anjuman Haroof-ul-Quran, Dacca, has in its telegram congratulated the President for his bold move.
The President while inaugurating the Urdu College here on Tuesday had suggested the adopting of the Quranic script for Urdu and Bengali language.
সূত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড: ষাটের দশক ॥ প্রথম পর্ব