Glorious Language Martyr Day

Nidhu Bhusan Das : Bangladesh deserves to be proud of being the embodiment of a linguistic nationalism which replaced the communal nationalism of Pakistan. The emergence of the country forty years ago marked the end of the relevance of the Two-nation theory in East Pakistan. The theory was enunciated by the British to divide the Indians on communal line in their imperialistic interest. The seed of Bangali nationalism germinated precisely on 21 February 1952 when blood was shed to suppress the Language Movement. Since then 21 February is celebrated as Language Martyr Day, fondly called Amor Ekushe. In East Pakistan it was celebrated every year as the day of resolve to be free from exploitation and injustice in the name of religion. Even to-day it is the day of resolve to protect secularism and the values of the liberation war the nation fought in 1971. The famous song – Can I forget the Ekushe February dyed red in the blood of my brethren (AAmi ki bhulite paari aamar bhaiyer rakte rangano Ekushe February) sung on the day tells of the sacred resolve. In fact, February is the month of pride and pledge for the people of Bangladesh. It has become the pride of all peoples across the globe since UNESCO declared the Language Martyr Day, the 21st February as the International Mother Tongue Day. For Bangladesh, this month is of great pride for it symbolizes their sacrifice for the prestige of their mother tongue Bengali. They have the rich heritage of shedding blood for awarding the mother tongue it's due place of honor as a state language. When soon after the founding of Pakistan it was announced that Urdu 'shall' be the state language of that country, the people of East Pakistan protested vehemently. As the Pakistan Government did not heed to the protest the language movement continued to gain in momentum and culminated in the martyrdom of students in Dhaka. The Language Movement and the Martyrdom are a milestone in the history of the growth and evolution of Bangali Nationalism which ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 through a nine-month war of liberation in which India played a historical role. The language movement, in course of time, graduated into a struggle for a distinct national identity of the Bangalis of East Pakistan. They, in the long run, seceded from Pakistan for freedom from economic exploitation, political independence from colonial clutches and cultural emancipation. They had to pay a heavy price as thirty lakh people were killed by the Pakistani occupation army and their collaborators during the nine months of liberation war and many women were raped, physical infrastructure was destroyed. The collaborators are now facing trial before a War Crime Tribunal. Bangladesh had a traumatic period within about four years of her birth when conspirators against secularism and Bangali Nationalism killed the founding father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members on 15 August 1975. After the killing of Bangabandhu and toppling of his government the usurpers changed the basic structure of the Constitution of the country deleting secularism. Besides, the usurpers also indemnified the killers of the father of the nation and rewarded them. Back in power in 1996, the Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the surviving elder daughter of Sheikh Mujib instituted cases against the Bangabandhu killers. They were charge sheeted. The trial could not be completed before they were out of power. The next regime of BNP-Jamat alliance put the trial of the cases to the back burner. The present alliance government of Sheikh Hasina accelerated the trial and five killers were hanged unto death after the apex court of the country confirmed the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court. Five of the killers are abroad, and the government seeks their extradition. This is the month for taking pledge for the people of the country. They are yet to achieve economic freedom through national prosperity. The national affluence is yet elusive because of the regressive policies pursued by different regimes in the name of Islam. The present government of Sheikh Hasina has sworn to modernize the polity with programs like 'Digital Bangladesh' and bringing back secularism in the Constitution and in real life of the nation. Dhaka has a number of achievements to boast of. Meanwhile, the Unesco declared the Language Martyr Day ( 21 February ) as the International Mother Tongue Day .The SAARC is a reality . The member nations can utilize the forum for mutual gain and individual as well as regional prosperity as they are doing in Europe with their European Union. Not suspicion, but understanding and goodwill can help bring peace and prosperity. Understanding can grow only in a democratic and secular climate. Reverting to secularism Bangladesh is back to the root and can win the trust of the democratic world to it’s advantage insofar as it’s development efforts are concerned. It is heartening that Bangladesh has reinvented itself and can now work for it’s progress and economic growth, instead of being busy with fundamentalist rhetorics and raising war cry against India. Only the spirit of Ekushe February and unity of the secular-democratic forces can prevent attempts at jeopardizing the democratic process. Bangladesh is a nation with prospects because of its rich alluvial soil, manpower and strategic position in South Asia. A good neighborly relation with India can help a lot in making Bangladesh a prosperous nation. The nation should be proud of her secularism at birth and pursue the policy instead of the regressive fundamentalism to be true to the spirit of nationalism which led to the emergence of the country following a protracted struggle.