Name Rafiq Ahmed | ||
 | ||
Died February 21, 1952, East Pakistan | ||
21 February || Motorcycle Tour || International Mother Language Day, Bangladesh
Singair, Manikgonj
Rafiq Uddin Ahmed (Bengali: রফিক উদ্দীন আহমেদ) (30 October 1926 – 21 February 1952) was a protester killed during the Bengali Language Movement that took place in East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) in 1952. He is considered a Martyr in Bangladesh.
Contents
- 21 February Motorcycle Tour International Mother Language Day Bangladesh
- Singair Manikgonj
- Early life
- Bengali Language Movement
- Legacy
- References
Early life
Ahmed was born on 30 October 1926 in Paril village (renamed 'Rafiqnagar'), Singair, Manikganj District, East Bengal, British Raj. He passed his matriculation from Baira School in 1949. He studied Intermediate level from Debendra College but dropped out before finishing. He moved to Dhaka and started working in a printing press owned by his father.
Bengali Language Movement
Ahmed was active in the student protest demanding Bengali be made the national language of Pakistan on 21 February 1952 despite Section 144(curfew) at Dhaka University. When police opened fire at the demonstration in front of Dhaka Medical College premises, Rafiq was shot in the head and died immediately. He was buried at Azimpur Graveyard under guard of Pakistan Army. His grave, though, was lost and could not be identified later.
Legacy
He was awarded Ekushey Padak posthumously in the year 2000 for his sacrifice. His village has been renamed Rafiqnagar from Paril and Bhasha Shaheed Rafiq Uddin Ahmad Library and Memorial Museum was created in his village on February 2010. Shaheed Rafiq Smriti Pathagar is a library in Manikganj named after him and was established in 2004. "Chander Moto Chandro Bindu" is a play based on his memoirs.