21 February 2022, Mon, 7:13

International Mother Language and Martyrs Day observed with due fervor

Jamaat Ameer remembers the sacrifice and contributions of language movement heroes

-Dr. Shafiqur Rahman

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has stated that, we are the only nation in the world who had sacrificed lives for the sake of our language. Our utmost sacrifice is, we had successfully secured the status and dignity of our mother language by dint of that sacrifice. Whereas, our failure and irony of fate is, we are observing the day on 21st February instead of 8thFalgun. Jamaat Ameer remembered the sacrifices of all language movement heroes and urged the government to ensure official honor on behalf of the nation for the living heroes.

He said this while addressing a virtual discussion and prize giving ceremony as the chief guest. Dhaka city North Jamaat-e-Islami arranged the program. Dhaka North city Jaaat Ameer and party’s central executive committee member Muhammad Salim Uddin presided the program. While, central working committee member and Dhaka city North Jamaat’s Secretary Dr. Rezaul Karim hosted the event. Jamaat’s central executive committee member and Central Publicity Affairs Secretary Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda addressed the program as the special guest. Among others, Jamaat’s former Ameer Professor GhulamAzam’s eldest son AbdullahilMamun Al Azmi and central working committee member and Dhaka city North’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa spoke on the occasion.

Jamaat-e-Ameer said, language movement has laid the foundation of our liberation movement. Pakistan had emerged in the global map upholding the slogan ‘La IlahaIllah Allah and having Quran as the constitution. Almighty Allah said about justice in the Quran. But the then Pakistani rulers failed to ensure justice for all. But after that chapter, later on we have achieved independence through a liberation war. But still, we are crying for democracy and basic citizen’s rights. A gap of intelligentsia has been created intentionally within the nation. Even Islamic publishers have not been given space in the book fair which is ongoing in this month of language movement. But miserably, the government is allowing license for alcohol. The people will not accept such a wrong decision of the government.

Jamaat Ameer said, former DUCSU GS Professor GhulamAzam was one of the key figures of the language movement. He read out memorandum for recognizing Bangla as state language in presence of the then Pakistani Prime Minister Liakat Ali Khan. He had to face imprisonment for his involvement with language movement during his teaching in Rangpur Carmichael College. But his name was erased from the list of DUCCU GS later on due to political vendetta. He was the founder of caretaker government formula. Consecutive 4 elections have been held under the caretaker government which gained credibility by every corners. But the government has annulled this system and as a result people have lost their voting rights. He urged to restore this system in order to bring back people’s voting rights.

He further said, the ongoing stories of development is nothing but a farce. Democracy has happened to the ruling party men only as they became richer. They laundered money in abroad and built their safe abode. But the government must remember that no tyrannical authority could sustain in this land. The government has carried out unprecedented tortures and repression against Jamaat-e-Islami but they failed to eliminate this organization. Rather, as the successor of party’s former leader Professor GhulamAzam and MaulanaNizami, many more people have joined this party and this party has turned into an irresistible force.

Mr. Matiur Rahman akanda said, mother language is a blessing from Almighty Allah. People used to express through his mother tongue. But the Pakistani autocratic authority had dared to seize our mother language and committed a severe violent act. MuammadSalim Uddin said, DUCSU GS was one of the key figures of the language movement and he also had taken part in all the democratic movement of Pakistan. But he is ignored by the ruling authority for their rigidity. But he will never be erased from the pages of history. He urged the government to assist and rehabilitate the families of the language movement’s martyr families. He also assured to extend assistance on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami as well.