Glorious role of female activists in Nilphamari
The then sub-divisional town Nilphamari wrote a glorious chapter in the Language Movement of 1952 as a large number of female activists participated in the forefront along with males, in spite of the conservative outlook of the people.
They not only organised processions and meetings but also inspired people by arranging cultural programmes where they sang patriotic songs, recited self-composed fiery poems and urged the people to protest the conspiracy against the Bangla language.
Language Movement veteran Chhomela Begum, 80, said many girl students took active part in the movement. Their participation created enthusiasm and drew large numbers of people to the agitation programmes as it was a new dimension in the context of the then conservative socio- political context, she added.
“Prominent female activists of the movement in Nilphamari were Foujia Begum, Jakia Sultana, Feroja, Halima, Rabeya, Saleha, Sufia, Bulu, Lebu and many others. Most of them have died,” the language veteran said, adding that most of them were students of Nilphamari Government Girls' High School.
A strike was observed in all educational institutions of Nilphamari on February 21, 1952. A big rally was held in Muslim Hostel premises of Nilphamari Model High School, where activists Foujia and Feroja spoke alongside the male participants.
The scenario changed overnight when news of the killing of Rafiq, Salam, Barkat, Jabbar, Shafiq and others on February 21 reached Nilphamari.
Thousands of people, with girl students at the forefront, brought out an angry procession on February 22. At one stage, 10 to 15 female activists led by Zaheda Khanam locked in a scuffle with police and snatched their batons, forcing them to retreat.
Three girls were injured in the scuffle. Lebu and Zaheda took the injured to a nearby house and gave them treatment secretly with the help of local physicians.
Agitation intensified further when the Pakistan government arrested Khairat Hossain, a local opposition member in the then East Pakistan Provincial Assembly, on February 23 as he walked out from the assembly along with Moulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, protesting the killing of February 21.
Thousands of people, including girls, staged a series of agitations on February 24, 25 and 26. Police arrested local Awami Muslim League convener advocate Dabiruddin Ahmed and educationist Abu Nazam Mohammad Ali on the night of February 26 to suppress the movement.
After the arrest, the remaining leaders went into hiding, creating a vacuum in the leadership. Undaunted, female activists like Foujia, Chhomela, Halima continued arranging people's gatherings in the name of street corner cultural functions, where messages for the movement were given indirectly.
Police issued arrest warrant against Foujia and Halima, forcing them to go into hiding.
Foujia, daughter of a local landlord, continued financing the agitation programmes from her hiding place till the Pakistan government was compelled to declare Bangla as one of the state languages.
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