Language Movement hero MA Wadud was no stranger to sacrifice for his country, countrymen, and ideals. He was quick to stand against injustice wherever he saw it, taking part in numerous movements throughout his student life and political career.
Veteran politician Tofail Ahmed wrote: “He never compromised on the question of Bangabandhu and independence. He was tortured during the military rule after the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation and his family on August 15, 1975. He hatefully rejected the offer of the Major General Ziaur Rahman to take over the ministry. As a result, false charges of harassment were filed against him, and he was imprisoned three times for different terms.”
A close associate of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Wadud was the first general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League and one of the founders of the Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League. He was born to an aristocratic Muslim family in Chandpur on August 1, 1925.
Leftist politician and freedom fighter Nirmal Sen writes: “Wadud Bhai's contribution in transforming Chhatra League into a non-communal organization was huge. The then Chhatra League could not have been imagined without MA Wadud.”
Glimpses of Wadud’s leadership were first seen when he led a student movement at the Soformali Madrasa in the Chandpur Sadar police station area in 1944. He became involved in the politics of the Gonotantrik Jubo League while studying at Dhaka College in 1946.
At the time, he was staying at the house of politician Shamsuddin Ahmed.
After being admitted to Dhaka University in 1948, Wadud first met Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Yar Mohammad Khan, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
When the East Pakistan Muslim League was formed on January 4, 1948, Wadud was appointed general secretary of the Dhaka Nagar Committee. At the same time, he played a role in publishing the weekly Ittefaq.
Many who knew him said Wadud even sold his blood at the blood bank to manage money to publish the newspaper.
Regarding the incident, Wadud’s daughter and Education Minister Dipu Moni said: “My father is my pole star. It is a unique example of love, honesty, struggle and sacrifice for the country and the people."
Wadud, along with Bangabandhu, was expelled from Dhaka University in 1949 for leading the student movement to press home the demands of class four employees.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his “Unfinished Memoirs”wrote: “On the morning of March 11, 1949, hundreds of student activists started picketing at Eden Building, General Post Office and other places. At 9 o'clock in the morning, the front door of Eden building was lathi charged. Khaliq Nawaz Khan, Bakhtiyar, Chhatra League general secretary MA Wadud was seriously injured.”
Wadud also played a crucial role in the Language Movement of 1952, following then-Prime Minister of Pakistan Khwaja Nazimuddin’s announcement that Urdu would be the state language. The Ittefaq published several reports criticizing the Pakistani decision.
MA Wadud was arrested over the Language Movement on February 22, 1952 and spent almost six months in jail.
On January 6, 1960, he married Begum Rahima, daughter of Abdul Hakim, a famous lawyer from Chandpur. She was a teacher of Matripith Govt Girls' High School.
Begum Rahima said: “I got him for 23 years. Although he was busy with politics and work, he did not neglect his responsibilities in the family.”
Wadud died on August 28, 1983 at the age of 58.