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Abul Barkat

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Abul Barkat
আবুল বরকত
Born(1927-06-16)16 June 1927
Died21 February 1952(1952-02-21) (aged 24)
Resting placeAzimpur Graveyard, Dhaka
OccupationLanguage rights activist

Abul Barkat (Bengali: আবুল বরকত; 16 June 1927 – 21 February 1952) was a protester killed during the Bengali Language Movement protests which took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh), in 1952.[1][2] He is considered a martyr in Bangladesh.[3][4]

Early life

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Abul Barkat was born on June 13 or 16, 1927 in Babla village, Salar that time Bharatpur Block, Murshidabad, West Bengal, British Raj. He studied in Babla primary school and completed his matriculation from Talibpur High School in 1945 and completed his intermediate from Krishnath College in 1947. He moved to Dhaka in 1948 after the Partition of India.[5] He completed his BA in political science from University of Dacca in 1951. He started his MA in political science in Dhaka University.[6]

Bengali Language Movement

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On February 21, 1952, students bought out a protest demanding Bengali language be given the status of national language despite Section 144 (curfew) being imposed. The police fired at the protestors on the road in front of Dhaka Medical College. Abul Barkat was seriously injured and later died at the Dhaka Medical College around 8:00 pm on February 21, 1952. He was buried in the Azimpur Graveyard.His mother, Hasina Begum, inaugurated the Shaheed Minar in 1963.[7]

Epitaph on Abul Barkat's grave at Azimpur Graveyard, Dhaka (2007).

Legacy

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Abul Barkat was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2000.[5] A museum has been built for him in Dhaka University campus.[6] A documentary titled Bayanno'r Michhil was made about his life.[8] Movement Hero Abul Barkat memorial museum and archive was opened in 2012 in Dhaka University; it was financed by Dhaka District Council.[9]

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Grave of language martyr Abul Barkat (1927–1952) at Azimpur graveyard, Dhaka (2021)

References

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  1. ^ "DU hands over martyr Barkat's certificate after 58 years". The Daily Star. 23 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Ekushey: A turning point in our history". The Daily Star. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Tribute paid to language martyrs". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Documentary on Shaheed Abul Barkat premiered". The Daily Star. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Kader, Rozina. "Barkat, Abul". Banglapedia. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b Rahman, Palash. "Martyr Barkat museum still waiting for opening". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. ^ "A Monument of Souls". The Daily Star. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Documentary on Shaheed Abul Barkat to premiere today". The Daily Star. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Barkat memorial museum at DU". The Daily Star. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
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