| Ahmed, Rafiq Uddin (1926-1952)
a language martyr. Rafiq Uddin Ahmed was born at village Paril in Singair
upazila of Manikganj district. He matriculated from Baira School in 1949.
While a student of Intermediate class at Devendra College in Manikganj
he discontinued his studies and moved to Dhaka. There he worked in his
father's commercial printing business.
On 21 February 1952, a general strike was called and a mass demonstration
staged in Dhaka demanding recognition of Bangla as one of the
state languages of Pakistan. The government ban on public gatherings
of people in Dhaka under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure
Code. But students and people from all walks of life defied Section
144 and participated in a demonstration. The police opened fire
on the demonstration in the premises of Dhaka Medical College
Hostel.
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Rafiq Uddin Ahmed |
Rafiq Uddin had joined the demonstration and was shot
dead. The police took his body to the morgue of Medical College Hospital.
He was buried in Azimpur graveyard at 3 a.m under an army guard. In recognition
of his sacrifice during the language movement, Rafiq Uddin was awarded
Ekushey Padak posthumously in February 2000. [ASM Rafiqul Akbar]
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