দেশী-বিদেশী পত্র-পত্রিকায় ভাষা আন্দোলনের পটভূমি ও ভাষা-আন্দোলন সম্পর্কিত তথ্য
His Highness the Aga Khan has been eulogised for harping on the language controversy. Pakistan Observer (13 February, 1951) states : “We are glad that the Aga Khan has done some plain speaking, at the risk of being misunderstood, regarding the language contro versy. Though we do not think that making Arabic the State Language of Pakistan is a feasible proposition still he has done a service by boldly attacking some false notions about Urdu. The powers that be in Karachi will do well to ponder over his words. The only wise course under the circumstances is to adopt both Bengali and Urdu as the State Language of Pakistan. Morning News (14.2.51) writes : “All the three reasons that the Aga Khan has advanced for Arabic and against Urdu appear to be on the face of them fallacious. In fact, these arguments, each one of them, can well be used, with equal force against Arabic being the state language of Pakistan! We mean no disrespect to the Aga Khan when we respectfully differ from him. Arabic has not been able to unite the Arabs Themselves. How can it unite pakistan with the Arab world? Unity in the world of Islam will work out of other solid factors than language.” Azad (13.2.1951) says, “His Highness the Aga Khan has made a significant proposal. He has suggested that Arabic be made the State Language of Pakistan. His proposal is not new. It has got many supporters both in Eastern and Western Pakistan. At a meeting of the Eastern Pakistan Muslim League Council a resolution in favour of Arabic has already been passed. It therefore appears that the movement in support of Arabic is gaining ground. The leaders of the country and the thoughtful section of the people should therefore go deeply into this matter.”
Hindusthan Standard (14.2.1951) refers to His Highness the Aga Khan’s suggestion of Arabic as State Language and comments : “Bengali Muslims who have been resisting even the adoption of · Urdu, are likely not even to consider the suggestion seriously in spite of its emergence from so exalted a religious leader. It is strange indeed that such impractical suggestions are sometimes made by people who are expected to know better. Possibly they so with an eye of the gallary alone.” jugantar (13.2.1951) remarks : “More than half of the population of Pakistan speaks Bengali. Learning of Arabic will be difficult for them, and learning of both Arabic and Urdu will be all the more difficult for the minorities. Let us see what is in store for them.”
The memorial presented to the Hon’ble Minister of East Bengal by a group of prominent people for making Bengali as official language in East Bengal has received ample support. Azad (25.2.1951) states, “As Chief Minister of East Bengal four years back, His Excellency Khwaja Nazimuddin, himself held out the hope in the floor of the Assembly that Bengali would be made the official language in East Bengal. His successor has not yet made any attempt to materialise that promise into action. Now and then we have reminded Government about their promise but to no effect. As His …. Khwaja Saheb’s successor Janab Nurul Amin did not say anything about it many people were led to believe that it was the intention of Government that this demand might be kept in abeyance. In view of the memorial that has now been presented to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of East Bengal, is it not up to him to take up this matter in right earnest?” Insaf (25.2.1951) says “The hopes extended by the Hon’ble Mr. Nurul Amin seem to be as eluding as those of his predecessor the Hon’ble Khwaja Nazimuddin. Without pinning our faith in such assurances it will be well for us to take up this work ourselves,” Azan (27.2.1951) comments : “To do justice to the Bengali language it should be made not only the official language in East Bengal but it should also be made the official language of the whole of Pakistan. It is the fundamental principle of Democracy that the language which is spoken of by the majority of the people of a state be made its official language.”
The recent deputation to Hon’ble Prime Minister of East Bengal led by some prominent citizens to advocate the cause of Bengali as the State Language of the Province has whipped up once again the language controversy. Hindusthan Standard (26.2.1951) remarks : “The very idea of making Bengali the official language of East Bengal is likely to encounter some opposition from the non-Bengali officials in the Secretariat but such opposition should not be allowed to stand in the way of the realisation of an idea which every patriotic person cherishes at heart.” Ananda Bazar Patrika (26.2.1951) comments : “Five crores of Pakistanis speak the Bengali language. This language can not be made an official one automatically. For doing it memorials and agitations have to taken resort to. It clearly show that the prospect of recognition of Bengali in East Bengal is not a very rosy one.”
The supporters of Urdu as being the only State Language in Pakistan comes in for adverse criticism. Pakistan Observer (18.4.1951) writes : Maulana Akram Khan is reported to have said at the Urdu Conference that those who oppose Urdu in East Bengal are the enemies of Islam. Presumably he includes among these ‘enemies’ those who like Doctor Mohd. Sahidullah have been advocating Arabic as our State Language in preference to Urdu. Those who want to see Urdu and Urdu alone installed as our National Language are bad psychologists. They have started their work in the wrong way. Instead of trying to force the language on us they should have left natural forces to take their own course. After all, we repeat, the National Language is not such as can be imposed on a majority by a minority.” Insaf (20.4.1951) says : “Against the wishes of the East Pakistanis who are ardently in favour of Bengali those who carry on propaganda in favour of Urdu must suffer the consequence for it. In selecting the National Language those who will not display wisdom must at one for their sins.” Panchajanya (21.4.1951) comments : We hope the awakened public opinion in East Bengal will not like to see the Bengali language to be either dwarfed or extirpated. Urdu and Arabic may be introduced in the country but not at the cost of Bengali which is spoken by 4 crores of East Pakistanis.” .
Government of East Bengal, B-Proceedings, Bangladesh National Archives, Public Relation Department (P&D), Bundle-2, January, 1952, Proceedings No. 788-854.
Nurul Amin says : Police tear-gassed Students in Self-defence ; East Pakistan Assembly Adjourned
The Police party guarding the Dacca University resorted to a Lathi-charge and used tear-gas against a crowd to students. surrounding the University yesterday morning, according to the Chief Minister of East Pakistan, Mr. Nurul Amin. But Police opened fire on the students, said D. N. Dutta, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the East Pakistan Assembly in the afternoon. Presenting a motion for adjournment for the House, Mr. Dutta demanded an inquiry into the situation arising out of the Police firing on the students n Dacca yesterday.
Mr. Monoranjan Dhar, another Congress Member, told the House that students injured by the police firing were lying in Dacca Medical College Hospital.
Mr. Abdur Rasheed, a member of the Muslim League Party, asked the Chief Minister to visit the hospital himself and make a statement on the floor of the House. The Chief Minister, Mr. Nurul Amin, said that according to his information the police party guarding the university was surrounded by the students and in selfdefence it had to resort to a lathi-charge and use tear-gas. Police and passcrs-by were brick-bated and several officers were injured. Private cars were also attacked.
The Chief Minister told the Assembly that in spite of the promulgation of Section 144 in Dacca, students, and some other young men tried to break the police cordon and to come out of the University compound. He expressed his fullest sympathy with those who had been injured and said a thorough enquiry would be made. If any official had committed excesses he would be suitably dealt with, he added.
Adjournment Demand : the demand for adjournment, moved by Mr. D. N. Dutta, was supported by the Leader of the Opposition, two independent members and a Muslim League member. The Chief Minister, Mr. Nurul Amin, opposed the demand for adjournment of the House. Later, the members of the Congress Party, some independent members, one Muslim League member and two Scheduled Caste members left the House.
After the question time, the Speaker adjourned the House till this afternoon.
Dawni, 22 February, 1952, p. 8.
Police Firing in Dacca Again :43 injured, 2 killed Dacca, February 22 : Police again open fire at several places in the morning to bring the deteriorating situation under control. According to a Press note issued in the evening ‘in all 45 injured persons were admitted to the hospital. Two persons died.’
Morning News Office Burnt: A report said that a mob set fire to the officer and the premises of the Morning News of Dacca. The management was reported to be making arrangements to produce the paper tomorrow morning from another press.
The mob also smashed a distribution van of the newspaper. Curfew has been clamped on the city from 10 p. m. till 5 a. m. (Saturday). Military had to be called out today the police in fringing the situation under control. Another report stated that the students lowered to half-mast the National Flag on all educational institutions. After two days’ firing the Police rounded up a number of persons who were described as ‘non-students’ participating in todays’ demonstrations held at several places, it is reliably learned. The Press note added : ‘On the Nawabpur Road another unruly crowed overpowered the police officers in-charge of the forces and tried to surround it. Since it would not disperse firing was resorted to in order to disperse it. A lathi charge was also made in the university area.
Officials of the Government in evening described the situation as ‘under control’. An earlier message says : ‘Three persons died and several received injuries when the police opened fire in Dacca on Monday afternoon on student demonstrators who, according to a l’ress note, were committing a breach of Section of 144 Cr. P. C. The students yesterday observed a general strike in response to a l’rovince-wide call made by the State Language Committee of Action. Section 144 Cr. P. C. was promulgated here on Wednesday. Several arrests are reported to have been made following the demonstration by the students today.
The Government Press note issued late last night said that the crowd ‘became violent’ and a lathi-charge was ordered which had only a temporary effect. The note added that the crowd threw brickbats at the Police and vehicular traffic. Mr. Hasan Ali, Minister for Communications, was among those who received injuries. In spite of warnings the crowd ‘tried to advance towards the Police party marching attitude’ the note said. The Police thereupon fired a few rounds as the crowd ‘rushed forward to attack the Police force’.
Dawn, 23 February, 1952, p. 1.
Dacca Tragedy
All Pakistan will grieve and our enemies will derive comfort and cheer from the tragic happenings at Dacca. First and foremost we offer homage to those who have paid the forfeit of their lives in the conflict between their convictions on the one hand, and the principle that law and order shall be maintained, on the other hand. There is no doubt that they have sacrificed their young lives for a cause they passionately believed in, whatever course of action that belief might have led them to.
Their memory deserves respect and will endure. We also grieve that so many others should have received physical hurt, and extend sympathy to them.
This tragedy becomes doubly so because while there is no doubt that the vast majority of the students and others who staged the demonstrations were actuated by sincere conviction and acted in their own light as true Pakistanis, there must have elements mingled with them and no doubt adding fuel to their honest favour, who were agents of our enemies. Such elements infiltrated into many walks of Pakistani life and chosen East Pakistan as the first target because they believe that if they can disrupt that part of Pakistan first, then half their nefarious battle will be won. In their understandable zeal for a language they cherish and in their larger love for Pakistan as a whole, many an honest East Pakistan enthusiast repeatedly misses this fact and is unable to guard against this danger. This is the deeper tragedy that underlies the tragedy of the present Dacca incidents.
But every dark cloud has a silver lining and out of these grievous happenings has emerged the final knowledge of how deeply our people and our kith and kin in East Pakistan feel on the language issue. This knowledge had been growing for quite some time and now the Chief Minister of East Pakistan himself has got the Provincial Legislature to pass a resolution that Bengali should also share with Urdu the honour of being adopted as one of our common motherlands’ state languages. The issue is thus settled and the constituent Assembly, we are confident, will accept this position and act accordingly when the appropriate time comes. We can assure the people of East Pakistan that the people of West Pakistan will not grudge them the equality with Urdu which Bengali has at last own…
Let by common consent the curtain be rung down on the sad and tragic episode except that the promised enquiry should be held to determine whether firing was necessary. No Government can permit lawlessness accompanied by violence to subvert the tranquillity of the State, specially when enemy agents are ever on the alert to turn such disorders to their even own nefarious purposes. In Bharat, too, ugly incidents necessitating recourse to use of force against citizens and students have happened many times. But the question of questions is – would damage to life and property have been caused had not the Police opened fire? This question must be answered by competent reliable authorities.
Editorial, Dawn, 23 February, 1952.
Dacca Incidents : Government Clarifies Situation
Dacca, February 22 : The East Pakistan Government issued a Press note last night stating that one person died on the spot and two succumbed to injuries later out of a total of 18 wounded by a lathi-charge and bullets from those who were admitted in the hospital. Spokesman of the students, however, gave higher figures for the wounded. The following Press note was issued by the East Pakistan Government last night.
“Apprehending a serious breach of the peace, as a result of an attempt planned to bring the normal life of Dacca City to a standstill on February 21, 1952, the District Magistrate promulgated on February 22 an order under Section 144 Cr. P. C. prohibiting the assembly of more than five persons, the holding of meetings and the taking out of processions without his permission. The order was announced widely throughout Dacca.
“On the morning of February 21, the students held a meeting in the compound of the Dacca University. The Vice-Chancellor, the Provost, the Dean and some of the professors of the University tried to persuade them not to defy the law but the students did not listen to them and decided to defy the order under Section 144 Cr. P. C. promulgated by the District Magistrate and came out in batches of more than five to violate the order.
Brickbats : “The abused the policemen on duty in the most filthy language and continued to do so throughout the day. At several places, people going about in the town were molested, vehicles were attacked and put out of action and shopkeepers who wanted to keep their shops open were intimidated into closing them. At about mid day a large body of students came out on the road, formed into a procession and threw brickbats which injured some constables and others and also damaged the police car. They rushed towards the police and were asked by the District Magistrate not to defy the law. They refused to listen to him and continued to throw brickbats at the police party. Finding the situation dangerous the District Magistrate asked the crowd to disperse and warned the people that if they did not do so force will have to be used to disperse them.
“This warning went unheeded and brickbats were thrown at the police party. On the order of the District Magistrate tear gas was used to disperse the crowd. After a short while, the crowed reassembled, came out on the road and rushed towards the Medical College and Assembly House.
“Brickbats continued to be thrown, as a result of which most of the officers present were injured, including the D. I. G. of Police, the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police Special Superintendent of police, the Additional Superintendent of Police, the A. D. S. P. two sergeants of Police, one Inspector and number of constables.
Lathi-Charge : “The crowd obstructed the traffic on the road and pelted brickbats at the police party. When the crowd became very violent and refused to listen to the dispersal warning given by the District Magistrate. This had only a temporary effect and,
after a little while, that crowed re-assembled and rushed towards · the police.
“A shower of brickbats was thrown at the police party and the crowd came from several sides, determined to surround and overpower the police force. All vehicular traffic on the road was stopped. Cars of Mr. Hasan Ali and the Director of Land Records who were proceeding to the Assembly House were attacked and they were injured as well. At this stage it was clear that the situation was getting out of control and finding that the police party was likely to be over-powered by the crowd, the District Magistrate gave a warning that if the people forming this unlawful assembly did not disperse he will be compelled to open fire to disperse them
Warning: “This warning was received with another shower of brickbats and filthy abuses. Since the warning went unheeded and the crowd tried to advance towards the police party in a menacing attitude, under the orders of the District Magistrate a few rounds were fired. The firing was then stopped. But instead of dispersing the crowd again rushed forward to attack the police force whereupon some more rounds were ordered which brought the ituation under control.
“The government regret to state”, the Press note said “that one person died on the spot and out of the nine other persons with bullet injuries who were admitted into the Medical College Hospital, to others succumbed later to their injuries at about 8 p. m. Persons in injuries as a result of the lathi-charge and the use of tear gas received medical attention in the hospital and nine such cases have been admitted into the hospital. The condition of none of the persons now in hospital is serious and all cases are progressing satisfactorily. Information in possession of the Government so far shows that a number of persons unconnected with the University or any of the educational institutions have been the chief instigators of this lawlessness, resulting in the most unfortunate incident of today. This matter is under the close investigation.
Dawn,.23 February, 1952, p. 6.
The Real Danger
Of the Dacca tragedy we have already once written in a vein in sincere sorrow. Sympathy for the victims of the police firing has been genuine and universal. The fact that the five precious lives lost in the incidence of last week were those of promising students flower of youth will make that sense of tragėdy more poignant. There will be homage for their martyrdom. praise for their sacrifice and respect for their courage of conviction. But we should not shut our eyes to the real implications of the situation. Their patriotism will not be questioned, but their rashness will be deplored. Even under the stress of such a painful tragedy and poignant sorrow we should not loss our sense of reality. The excitable youth had faced the bullet in a frenzied attempt to demonstrate their love for their language had all the same regrettably violated law and order, obviously under the wicked instigation of people who have no love for Pakistan and what it stands for. This enemies of our country exploited their youthful emotion to create a situation subversive of law and order and to throw East Pakistan into a turmoil in which our enemies outside would find an opportunity they have been waiting for. That these subversive elements had chosen East Pakistan as the base of their nefarious activities must have been clear even to these young men. They should have realised how dangerous it was to play with the emotionally inflammable question of language in such an inherently explosive situation. However, much one might regret the firing during the incidents, it must be clear even to the blindest that it would have been suicidal folly for the Government to have allowed these subversive elements to go unchecked with their defiance of law and order.
The tragedy has occurred. All that can now be done is to make a judicial inquiry into the whole incident. That has already been promised. So far as the East Pakistan Government are concerned, the language question itself has been settled in a manner satisfactory to the protagonists of Bengali. It is time now for all patriots, young and old, to join hands and to wipe out the bitterness that the incidents of the past few days had engendered. Patriotism commands them to stand together and thus isolate the enemy agents who have been extraordinarily active during the past few days. It is no longer a secret that only one community had staged a so-called hartal after the first day’s incidents. It was they who were foremost in the defiance of the order under Section 144. It was they who had instigated the local Muslim youth against the Muslim refugees from Bharat. Fortunately their instigation did not fully succeed. A number of non Muslim foreigners have been arrested while distributing inflammatory pamphlets at different places in the Province. All this shows that there was a deep seated and well laid out plan behind all these incidents, meant to serve the interests of Pakistan’s enemies. It is not the language question, but this concerted operation by an enemy network that is the real danger. The language question, we have not the least doubt, will be satisfactorily solved. The immediate attention of the Provincial and Central Governments should turn to the existence of this secret network of enemy agents who are actively assisted by their local supporters. The language issue is only one of the weapons in their armory. Their real objective is a much bigger and more ambitious one. Therein lies the real danger to East Pakistan. Before that danger, the tragedy of police firing pales into comparative insignificance. :
Dawn, 26 February, 1952, p. 5.
সূত্র: ভাষা আন্দোলনের দলিলপত্র – রতন লাল চক্রবর্ত্তী সম্পাদিত