Communist Party’s role
On January 27, 1952, Khwaja Nazimuddin, addressing an open session of the Muslim League Council, said only Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan. Waves of protest began, and the [Communist] party realised that a mass movement could be waged around the resuscitation of the language question.
The All-Party State Language Action Committee declared a general strike for February 21, 1952. But on the afternoon of February 20, section 144 was imposed in Dhaka city. On the same afternoon, Action Committee met at the Awami League office in Nawabpur. Violation of section 144 became the focal point of the discussion.
Toaha, Oli Ahad, Dewan Mahbub Ali and Samad were informed initially through Taqiullah to press for violation of section 144. But they were told to accept the majority's decision if they failed to persuade others. After some initial discussions with others, it was understood that the Awami League and other members outside the party in the Action Committee were not willing to violate section 144.
In an emergency meeting, the [Communist] party decided that it would not allow any rift in the all-party action committee. No extreme action would be encouraged as such incidents would be easily exploited by the government. The party, then, gave clear instructions to Toaha, Oli Ahad, Samad and Dewan Mahbub Ali, who were members of the all-party committee, not to pressurise the Committee for violating section 144. They were also asked to explain to the committee that the general election could be postponed due to any emergency situation. At that time there was a talk of holding a general election and its postponement was considered as a great setback in the democratic life of East Bengal.
Shamsul Haque, Toaha and Oli Ahad went to the students in the morning (February 21) to explain the decision of the all-party committee to them and to calm them down. However, it was decided in the end that the students would break section 144 by dividing themselves into 10 groups of 10 each.
The all-party committee ceased to exist following the violation of section 144. After that the students belonging to the [Communist] party were in control of the movement.
Shahidullah Kaiser was a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of East Pakistan during the Language Movement.
Source: This is an abridged version of Shahidullah Kaiser's interview published in Bhasha Andolon Prasanga: Katipay Dalil (Ed. Badruddin Umar, Bangla Academy, 1995)
Translated by Shamsuddoza Sajen
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