Bail petition rejected

On February 20, 1952, I was busy all day with campaigning in different areas of the city to make the the next day's progamme successful.

At around 3:00pm I heard about the imposition of Section 144 and returned to Dhaka University to inquire about it. Students were very agitated. At that time, Haider was the DC of Dhaka. An ICS officer, he advised the government not to impose Section 144.

However, the government didn't listen to him and, therefore, he declined to follow the order. He was removed from the post. Narayanganj's SDO Qureshi was brought to Dhaka immediately and was given charge of the DC post. He imposed Section 144. 

Later, in the evening, I participated in the meeting of All-Party State Language Action Committee. It was decided at that Section 144 would not be violated. However, we decided the opposite.

Next day I arrived at the university early in the morning. The meeting started at around 11:30am. Gaziul Haque presided over the meeting. A heated debate broke out. Eventually, a decision was taken in favour of violating Section 144.

We came out on the street shouting slogans. Police arrested us immediately. SA Bari, Habibur Rahman Shelly, Shamsul Huq and Azim were in our group. First, we were taken to Lalbagh Police Station and then to Central Jail. A court was set up inside the jail. Ali Amzad and my elder brother ATM Mostafa moved our bail petition. However, it was rejected.

AIM Taha was a student leader during the Language Movement

Source:  Bhasha Andolon Shatchallish theke Baanna (Ed. Mostofa Kamal, Bangladesh Co-operative Book Society Ltd, 1987).

Translated by Shamsuddoza Sajen