The demand of Bengali to be one of the state languages of Pakistan was a natural historic demand just after partition of India by the British in 1947 into two independent states -- Pakistan with two wings, east and west, and bigger side India including West Bengal dividing Bengal.
The eastern wing was East Bengal i.e. East Pakistan, the other side of divided Bengal separated from western wing by thousand miles of Indian Territory. In its hurry to leave India by communal partition it created Kashmir issue in the west between India and Pakistan, which is burning till to- day for non-settlement of this issue and killing innocent people and army personnel on both sides. When and how settlement would be reached we do not know, but one thing is sure truth will triumph despite intrigues of vested quarters.
Prior to this political communal partition1947, British administratively divided Bengal in 1905 to stem freedom movement against its rule by Swadeshi (Patriotic) uprising but had to annul it in 1911 and restored United Bengal. Finally, after 36 years British left India infusing communal poison, which is not religious in any sense but vested interests created it on both sides in the name of religion.
This is the history we have learnt from respected teachers in academic classes on Indian Historyand family circle as well as social. The demand for Greater Bengal was pursued by HS Suhrawardhy, Sharat Chandra Bose, Abul Hashem, Muezzul Islam and others till the last moment of declaration for transfer of power by Lord Mountbatten, but of no effect.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a young rising leader was in the vicinity of this group. The partition with subdivided and long porous borders between two states came into effect in August 1947. In December 1948 widely known and respected Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah said as it is true we are Hindu or Muslim likewise it is truer we are Bengali. It is not merely a matter of ideology, it is practical truth.
The students at School, College and University countrywide were stirred by the martyrs' blood for establishing mother language Bengali spoken by the majority in state affairs and fought for it in democratic way supported by the multitude in similar rhythm. Stillone remembers in his friendly exchangefew years read in SM Model High School, Gopalgonj with his class mate Sheikh Siddiqur Rahman retired Janata Bank official in his own residence at Siddeswari Dhaka in what ambience we were in early 1950s.
We recalled Banagabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman passed by the side of our school addressed us. He hails from Gopalgonj spoke about Sheikh Hasina eloquently before last Parliamentary election. There was peace and tranquility among Hindu-Muslim as usual despite partition three years back few left for West Bengal, India. Same was the position in Comilla as my father returnedresumed legal practice and politics after serving some years built law magistracy of new state, which hope vanished in no time by mal governance and attack on mother language. Democracy and governance continued uninterrupted in West Bengal but lost in East Bengal, Pakistan.
At Comilla Victoria College we had galaxy of devoted teachers who taught us during 1955-57 session at Intermediate level and participated in democratic cultural activities alongside listening the lectures and learn that left permanent imprint in mindset. Noted Principal Akhter Hamid Khan facilitated academic democratic atmospheres and simultaneously pioneered two-tier cooperative model for rural development.
There was no outside interference, annual Students Union election was held under the care and control of teachers as extra-academic pursuits helped enthusiasm of the students and imbibe patriotism. Cultural activities, Wall Papers writing and reading were the main features made some politically sensitive which is sublime turned out citizen and leader of tomorrow in different spheres of life.
Later on it was found few students had links with underground communists toeing Soviet Union who tracked well- to- do in their own interest! They were Faizullah, Abu Taher who after liberation came out with different faces as leaders of NAP Muzaffar toing Communist Party of Bangladesh, which was splintered with the collapse of Soviet Union and now have no existence in real terms though registered with Election Commission.
With academic and democratic zeal we passed the intermediate and admitted into Economics Department as resident student of S M Hall, Dhaka University. During 1957-61 academic atmospheres prevailed in the campus and annual Hall-DUCSU election was held participated by resident and attached students with democratic fervor and students organizations were in perfect harmony and democratic mood.
Our Dhaka Universitybatch 1961 is widely known, particularly Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, immediate past Chief Adviser to army backed caretaker government Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed 2007 to 2008 who muddled democratic politics although raised hope talked elimination unequal distribution of income etc. while opening Ekushey Book Fair but of no avail and engaged in minus two formulae which was not expected.
True he was not political minded which call for sacrifice, why then he took this onerous activity! Politician Kazi Zafar Ahmed exclaimed he was non-executive Prime Minister under autocratic Ershad regime; Prime Minister then written in history; finally had to leave autocrat! Those of us who did not compromise and followed the spirit of Ekushey February to liberation 1971 are nowhere!
In a nutshell, Bengali nationalist spirit and sacrifices in erstwhile East Pakistan led to emergence of Bangladesh 1971 could not progress on the charted line shown by Mujib- Bhashani, but lost in cravings for new posts and privileges at home and abroad on account of sovereignty and Bangbandhu was killed in 1975. Campus became violence ridden, University teachers' partisan politics, new phenomenon foreign funded NGOs, and Communists hidden in National Awami Party (NAP), JSD on return from refugee camps derailed cherished moral goals. It is expected Hall-DUCSU election in March after 28 years marks a new beginning and Bengalis start afresh removing fence borders opening friendship.
The writer is an economist, advocate and social activist
----Muhammad Quamrul Islam
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