Language Movement of 1952

The Language Movement of 1952 in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was a significant struggle to recognize Bengali as the official language, alongside Urdu. During Pakistan's founding, the government favored Urdu, which many Bengali speakers felt marginalized their cultural identity. Students and activists organized protests, notably on February 21, 1952, where police opened fire on demonstrators, causing casualties. The movement highlighted the importance of linguistic and cultural recognition, ultimately leading to the official recognition of Bengali as one of Pakistan's state languages in 1956. This movement fostered greater regional identity and contributed to Bangladesh's eventual independence.