1952 Language Movement

The 1952 Language Movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was a political and cultural struggle to recognize Bengali as the official state language of Pakistan, which was then divided into West Pakistan (primarily Urdu-speaking) and East Pakistan (mostly Bengali-speaking). The movement emerged because the ruling authorities favored Urdu, ignoring the linguistic and cultural identity of East Pakistan’s people. On February 21, 1952, students and activists protested peacefully, but police opened fire, killing several students. The martyrs became symbols of Bengali identity and helped inspire broader demands for autonomy, ultimately contributing to Bangladesh's independence movement decades later.