Khulna girls with rebel hearts: The 800 who marched in 1952

On February 21, 1952, when the radio reported that students had been fired upon in Dhaka, protests were held in Dhaka and all over the country. Students, including girls, led processions in Khulna. “When I first heard the news, I was scared and troubled. But I conquered my fears and began preparing for the procession. I learned how to organize a procession step-by-step from Nurul Islam, since I had no prior experience.” This was how language warrior Begum Mazeda Ali reminisced about the Language Movement. Back then, she was a student of RK Girls’ College (presently Boyra Mohila College). In 1952, classes at the RK Girls’ college were held at the present Coronation School building, and Mazeda resided in the Coronation School hostel. She continued: “Keeping up with the countrywide protests, Gazi Shahidullah, M Nurul Islam Dadu, and a few others brought paper and ink to write on the festoons. I, alongside other students Sultana, Sufia, Peyara and Joli, wrote banners. “February 21 was a Thursday. Since the college was closed the next day, we had to go to every student's house to inspire rebellious sentiments among them. On Saturday, February 23, a strike was called inside the college. I went to the college principal and took the keys to the gates from her and then started gathering the girls. “At around 9am, the girls exited the hostel through the back gate and started the procession. Eight hundred to nine hundred students participated in the procession. Khuku, Ratna, and Krishna were among the ones who chanted slogans. The procession started from Hadis Park and ended with a rally on a stage.” According to Begum Mazeda, her husband, a former speaker of the National Assembly, was a journalist at the time of the Language Movement. Even though he had an indirect role to play in it, it was never publicized. While speaking about “Tripti Niloy”, one of the most important locations for the Language Movement inside Khulna, Mazeda said: “All kinds of decisions were made in 'Tripti Niloy'. It was the centre of the movement. I was not allowed there because I was a girl, but the protests were held following the guidelines issued from there.” Mazeda added, “After hearing rumours of the bloodbath in Dhaka, students started to gather around the hostel gate in the evening. But I was the only girl allowed outside the hostel, as I used to take classes at Railway School. Naturally, I was the one who went beyond the gates and gathered the news. Later, I got to hear of details from student leader Gazi Shahidullah, M Nurul Islam, Abu Muhammad Ferdous, AKM Shamsuddin, and others.” However, Begum Mazeda Ali thinks that the objective of the Language Movement has not been fulfilled. Bangla is not being practiced inside the country as it should be. Language warrior Begum Mazeda Ali was born on August 28, 1936, in the Farazipara area of Khulna town. Her father was the late Sheikh Abdul Jabbar and her mother Mosammat Daulat-un-Nisa. She is the wife of former speaker Advocate Sheikh Razzak Ali. She is currently involved with different organizations such as the Khulna Mahila Samity, Mahila Samabay Samity, Rehabilitation Centre for Destitute Women, Banufool Women and Children’s Welfare Society, Girl Guides’ Society, Authoress Committee, National Tuberculosis Prevention Committee, and the National Social Welfare Committee, among others.