Sohail Maruf, additional deputy commissioner (education and ICT) of Barisal, emphasized the need
Bangladesh commemorates on Wednesday the completion of 72 years since the historic Bangla language movement that demanded recognition as a state language.
However, in this seven-decade period, a complete list of language heroes who participated in the language movement has not been prepared.
As the nation gears up to commemorate Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21, preparations are in full swing across educational institutions throughout the country.
In anticipation of the solemn occasion, plans are being made to adorn Shaheed Minar altars with vibrant floral displays at dawn on February 21. School students are set to actively participate in the morning ceremonies, paying homage to the language martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the recognition of Bangla as the state language.
However, a significant challenge looms over several primary schools in Barisal district. A considerable number of these schools lack a Shaheed Minar, hindering students’ ability to honour the martyrs adequately.
Concerns over this inadequacy have been raised by both educators and parents, urging authorities to address the issue by facilitating the construction of Shaheed Minars within primary school premises.
An investigation into the matter reveals stark statistics. A mere 10% of government primary schools in Barisal district boast a Shaheed Minar. Of the 1592 government primary schools in the district, a mere 153 have this essential monument.
Notably, the situation is particularly dire in Mehendiganj upazila, where none of the 208 primary schools have a Shaheed Minar.
In other parts of the district, the presence of Shaheed Minars remains scarce. For instance, Agailjhara upazila has only 2 out of 97 primary schools equipped with this monument, while Wazirpur upazila counts 30 out of 181 schools. Similarly, other upazilas such as Gournadi, Sadar, Bakerganj, Banaripara, Babuganj, and Muladi also report low percentages of primary schools with Shaheed Minars.
The plight of Nagerkathi Government Primary School in Bakerganj Upazila epitomizes the issue at hand. Established in 1970 in Rangashree Union, the school’s 140 students are unable to pay their respects to the martyrs due to the absence of a Shaheed Minar.
Newaz Mallik, the headmaster of Nagerkathi Government Primary School, lamented the situation, emphasizing the urgent need for a Shaheed Minar. Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, a Shaheed Minar is yet to be constructed.
Echoing Mallik’s sentiments, fifth-grade student Sarah voiced her disappointment, highlighting how the absence of a Shaheed Minar deprives them of the opportunity to honour the martyrs.
Barisal District Primary Education Officer SM Aktaruzzaman held out the assurance that efforts would be made to address the issue. However, he stressed the importance of budget allocation at the governmental level for such endeavours.
Renowned educationist Dasgupta Ashish Kumar underscored the significance of Shaheed Minars in educating the younger generation about the sacrifices made in 1952 for the recognition of the Bengali language as the language of the state in erstwhile Pakistan.
Sohail Maruf, additional deputy commissioner (education and ICT) of Barisal, emphasized the need for every school to have a Shaheed Minar, pledging the district administration’s full cooperation in overcoming any obstacles hindering its construction.
This has resulted in a lack of recognition for those who contributed to the movement, and their identities have not been adequately highlighted before the generation following that of the martyrs.
The language movement was a significant event in Bangladesh’s history, and it is essential to acknowledge the contributions of the activists who fought for their mother tongue.
Unfortunately, no one has been able to provide a clear answer as to why a list of linguists involved in the movement has not been formulated yet.
A writ filed by Advocate Manzil Morshed in the High Court back in 2010 has resurfaced in the media as it sought instructions to prepare a list of language heroes.
As a result of the writ, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs formed a three-member committee on January 20, 2011, for the preparation of the list.
The committee worked for a year and published a list that recognized 68 language heroes, including 14 women. The list was gazetted on February 23, 2012.
However, controversy arose over the inclusion of certain names on the list, causing a stagnation in the preparation process. After that, no significant progress has been made in the last 12 years.
The High Court had previously directed that committees be formed in all districts of the country, including Dhaka, to contribute to the preparation of the list.
Despite these directives, a three-member committee set up by the Ministry, comprising language hero Ahmed Rafiq, Rafiqul Islam, and Muntasir Mamun, failed to make any meaningful contributions.
Furthermore, there has been a lack of progress being in other district committees.
The committee held only one meeting, which focused on the intricacies of the working method. Since then, work on the list has essentially come to a halt.
Ahmad Rafiq, the convener of the committee, expressed his thoughts to Dhaka Tribune.
Questioning the possibility of creating an accurate list of language heroes 72 years after the language movement, he said: “Despite the ministry’s efforts, the matter remained in a state of chaos. Many individuals from different parts of the country are claiming themselves as language heroes. While there have been efforts to preserve the history of the Liberation War, not much has been done to preserve the history of the language movement. Even if there is a desire to do so now, it may no longer be possible because most of the individuals who actively participated in, organized, or led the language movement have passed away.”
Rafiq also admitted that he cannot remember much about the movement either.
The High Court had issued an eight-point directive in its ruling, which included preparing a list of language activists and constructing a library and a language museum near the central Shaheed Minar.
However, building the library and language museum next to the Shaheed Minar has been limited to signboards only.
Ahmad Rafiq said: “As far as I know, recently the High Court ordered the National Museum to publish the list of language heroes within two years. I have made a list of 225–230 people so far on my own initiative. But my physical condition is not so good, I can’t even see properly. So the list can’t be complete.”
Since the court issued the order, five ministers and state ministers have successively taken charge of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The most recent state minister was KM Khalid.
He said that the ministry had been working towards implementing the High Court’s directives.
However, when asked about the progress made, he suggested the reporter speak with someone who is currently in charge of the ministry. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the current minister at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
The secretary of the ministry, Khalil Ahmed, declined to discuss the matter over the phone, stating that it is still under process.
He said: “A committee of language heroes and historians is currently reviewing the matter.”
Additionally, he mentioned that the ministry has followed the instructions of the High Court with regard to the matter.
68 language heroes
Former President Mohammed Zillur Rahman, Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, Abdul Matin, Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Oli Ahad, Roshan Ara Bachchu, Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmed, artist Imdad Hossain, artist Murtaja Baseer, Dr Sufia Ahmed, Dr. Halima Khatun, Ghulam ArieffTipoo, Prof. Rafiqul Islam, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Prof. Anisuzzaman, Prof. Ajoy Roy, Ahmed Rafiq, Burhanuddin Khan Jahangir, Sanjida Khatun, Kamal Lohani, Dr Sayeed Haider, Debpriya Barua (DP Barua), Dr. Farooq Aziz Khan, M Mujibul Haque, Syeduddin Ahmad, Ziad Ali, Sameeruddin Ahmad, Tofazzal Hossain, Khaleda Fancy Khanam, Zahrat Ara Khanam, Bahauddin Chowdhury, artist Aminul Islam, Mosharraf Hossain Akunji, Abdur Razzak, Abul Hossain, Saiful Islam (Pabna), Ranesh Maitra (Pabna), Momtazuddin Ahmed (Rajshahi), Nadera Begum, Pratibha Mutsuddi, Begum Chemon Ara, Abdul Ghafoor, Khodadad Khan, Nurul Haque Bhuiyan, Syed Fazle Ali, Abdul Latif, Motahar Hossain Sufi (Rangpur), Karzon Ali (Gaibandha), Pranesh Samaddar (Dhaka) Dr. Ali Asgar (Dhaka), Shah Tafazzal Hossain Pradhan (Dhaka), Shah Tabibur Rahman Pradhan (Rangpur), AKM Azharuddin (Barisal), Anisul Haque Pyara (Rangpur), Nilufar Ahmad Doli (Rangpur), Roshan Jahan Hossain (Dhaka), Roshan Ara Chowdhury (Dhaka), Dr. Jahanara Begum (Rajshahi), Hasan Imam Tulu (Gaibandha), Shah Abdur Razzak (Rangpur), Dr. M Islam (Dhaka), Chowdhury Harunur Rashid (Chittagong), AKM Rafiqullah Chowdhury (Chittagong), Ekramul Haque (Rajshahi), Professor Abul Kasem, Shahed Ali, Mumtaz Begum (Narayanganj).
