DU to honour Barkat 57 years after martyrdom

In a rare convocation in commemoration, Dhaka University (DU) authorities will offer the graduation certificate and marks sheet on Friday to Language Movement martyr Abul Barkat 57 years after his martyrdom.
Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique will hand over the certificate and result sheet to Barkat's cousin at the VC office.
The certificate awarding ceremony is part of a movie based on the language movement as well as Barkat's life, the VC told UNB yesterday.
Barkat obtained BSS (Hons) degree in Political Science from Dhaka University in 1951. He stood fourth in the second class.
He was a Masters student of the university when he was shot dead during the language movement waged on the demand for recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan in 1952, on the premises of Dhaka Medical College hostel on 21st February at about 8 pm.
Barkat was laid to rest in Azimpur graveyard. In recognition of his sacrifice, he was awarded Ekushey Padak posthumously in 2000.
Abul Barkat, nicknamed Abai, was born in 1927 at village Babla in Bharatpur thana of Murshidabad district. After the partition of India, he came to Dhaka in 1948.