Shawkat Ali
Encyclopedia
Shawkat Ali (April 20, 1918 – August 18, 1975), politician and a leader of the Bengali Language Movement. He was one of the founders of Awami Muslim League
- which later became Awami League and is now the Bangladesh Awami League
. He was a member of all three Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad
. He was also the Chief Organizer of Dhaka City Awami League during the 50's. His house in 150, Chawk Moghultuly, Dhaka was the center for many activities and meetings during Language Movement. He died of a stroke on August 18, 1975. He is buried in Jurain graveyard in Dhaka.
, East Bengal
on April 20, 1918. His father Shamser Ali was a prominent businessman in the area and his mother Meherunnisa Khanam was a housewife. He lost his mother when he was two years old. He was raised by his father and maternal uncles and aunts. He attended Muslim High School. After completion of his high school he attended Jagannath College and received his B.Com degree. He went for higher studies in Dhaka University but could not finish due to political involvement.
. On 30 December 1947, a meeting was called by Principal Abul Kashem at the Rashid Building. The first Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad
called "Tomuddin Majlish er Rashtrobhasha sub-committe" was formed under the leadership of Professor Abul Kashem. Shawkat Ali was elected as one of the members of that committee.
On March 2, 1948, he was elected one of the members of the second Language Movement sub-committee. The second sub-committee called a general strike throughout the country on 11the March, 1948. It was the first strike of the Language Movement. Shawkat Ali played an important role during that strike. He along with his friends started picketing in front of the second entrance of the Secretariat building. At one point of the picketing he halted the car carrying the Police S.P. Chatham and I.G. Zakir Hossain. Others picketing with him were Kazi Golam Mahboob
and Engineer Barkat. When the I.G. handcuffed the other two activists, Shawkat Ali laid down in front of the car. The I.G. then said "you are under arrest too" and grabbed his hand. Shawkat Ali in return grabbed the shiny car bumper with his other hand. The car then started to move while dragging him along with the I.G. He was then arrested and taken away. Also arrested on that day were Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
, Khaleque Nawaz Khan, Shamsul Huq
, Oli Ahad
, Abdul Wahed and others. Separate cases were filed against Shawkat Ali and Kazi Golam Mahboob
.
All the arrestees were released on the evening of 15 March after signing the Rashtrobhasha Chukti(Language Movement Treaty). The authorities refused to free Shawkat Ali and Kazi Golam Mahbub because they had separate charges against them along with the charges for picketing. At this point the other released leaders and activists started shouting at the jail authorities and declared that they would not leave prison until all the leaders are freed. The authorities finally had to release the other leaders. Shawkat Ali along with Shaikh Mujibur Rahman then went to 150, Chawk Moghultuly and spent the night there.
On March 16, 1948, a student meeting was held at the Dhaka University Campus demanding Bengali to be the National Language. After the meeting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
led a rally towards the Assembly Hall. The rally passed Engineering College, Dhaka Medical College and reached the four corners near Assembly Hall. The students surrounded the Hall and laid a siege. The members of the assembly, the speaker, deputy speaker and the MPs were all encircled. Shawkat Ali, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others engaged in a heated exchange of words with the MPs and the District Magistrate. Suddenly, the students came under attack by the police. The policemen started using batons, tear gas shells and fired blanks. Nineteen activists were injured that day and Shawkat Ali was the most seriously hurt.
The Language Movement reached its climax in 1952 with the indiscriminate shooting by the police at protesters and killing four young men - Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed
, Abul Barkat
and Abdul Jabbar.
Shawkat Ali led and organised and led many of the protests, rallies and picketing during the tragic and fateful days of February, 1952. He was arrested again on March 2, 1952 and was imprisoned for a long time.
. He died on August 18, 1975 at the Holy Family Hospital, Dhaka. He is buried in Jurain graveyard in Dhaka.
one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Language Movement, with effect from January 17, 2010, Dhaka City Corporation
renamed Dhanmondi Road No. 4/A after him.
Awami Muslim League
Awami Muslim League Pakistan is a Pakistani political party formed in June 2008 by Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad.- NA-55 :This is a national assembly seat fought by Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of the Awami Muslim League Pakistan on February 24, 2010 but lost by a margin of more than 28000 votes...
- which later became Awami League and is now the Bangladesh Awami League
Bangladesh Awami League
The Bangladesh Awami League , commonly known as the Awami League, is the mainstream center-left, secular political party in Bangladesh...
. He was a member of all three Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad
Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad
The Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad was an organisation founded by Bengali politicians and intellectuals to agitate for the recognition of the Bengali language by the Government of Pakistan...
. He was also the Chief Organizer of Dhaka City Awami League during the 50's. His house in 150, Chawk Moghultuly, Dhaka was the center for many activities and meetings during Language Movement. He died of a stroke on August 18, 1975. He is buried in Jurain graveyard in Dhaka.
Early life
Shawkat Ali was born in a prominent Sunni Muslim family in Gandaria, DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
on April 20, 1918. His father Shamser Ali was a prominent businessman in the area and his mother Meherunnisa Khanam was a housewife. He lost his mother when he was two years old. He was raised by his father and maternal uncles and aunts. He attended Muslim High School. After completion of his high school he attended Jagannath College and received his B.Com degree. He went for higher studies in Dhaka University but could not finish due to political involvement.
Political career
Shawkat Ali was deeply involved with Tamaddun MajlishTamaddun Majlish
Tamaddun Majlish is an Islamic cultural organization in Bangladesh, established in 1947 by Principal Abul Kashem in erstwhile East Pakistan...
. On 30 December 1947, a meeting was called by Principal Abul Kashem at the Rashid Building. The first Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad
Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad
The Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad was an organisation founded by Bengali politicians and intellectuals to agitate for the recognition of the Bengali language by the Government of Pakistan...
called "Tomuddin Majlish er Rashtrobhasha sub-committe" was formed under the leadership of Professor Abul Kashem. Shawkat Ali was elected as one of the members of that committee.
On March 2, 1948, he was elected one of the members of the second Language Movement sub-committee. The second sub-committee called a general strike throughout the country on 11the March, 1948. It was the first strike of the Language Movement. Shawkat Ali played an important role during that strike. He along with his friends started picketing in front of the second entrance of the Secretariat building. At one point of the picketing he halted the car carrying the Police S.P. Chatham and I.G. Zakir Hossain. Others picketing with him were Kazi Golam Mahboob
Kazi Golam Mahboob
Kazi Golam Mahboob is an activist of the Language Movement that took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan . He was also an active politician and worked in both of the major political parties of Bangladesh....
and Engineer Barkat. When the I.G. handcuffed the other two activists, Shawkat Ali laid down in front of the car. The I.G. then said "you are under arrest too" and grabbed his hand. Shawkat Ali in return grabbed the shiny car bumper with his other hand. The car then started to move while dragging him along with the I.G. He was then arrested and taken away. Also arrested on that day were Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
, Khaleque Nawaz Khan, Shamsul Huq
Shamsul Huq
Shamsul Huq was a Bengali politician who led a parliamentary committee in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan to advocate for the recognition of the Bengali language during the Language movement of the 1950s...
, Oli Ahad
Oli Ahad
-Early life:Ahad was born at the Islampur village of Brahmanbaria. In 1944 he passed matriculation from Daudkandi Government Aided High School. During the election for referendum of Pakistan, Ahad got involved with politics and campaigned in various places like Tripura, Bogra and was arrested...
, Abdul Wahed and others. Separate cases were filed against Shawkat Ali and Kazi Golam Mahboob
Kazi Golam Mahboob
Kazi Golam Mahboob is an activist of the Language Movement that took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan . He was also an active politician and worked in both of the major political parties of Bangladesh....
.
All the arrestees were released on the evening of 15 March after signing the Rashtrobhasha Chukti(Language Movement Treaty). The authorities refused to free Shawkat Ali and Kazi Golam Mahbub because they had separate charges against them along with the charges for picketing. At this point the other released leaders and activists started shouting at the jail authorities and declared that they would not leave prison until all the leaders are freed. The authorities finally had to release the other leaders. Shawkat Ali along with Shaikh Mujibur Rahman then went to 150, Chawk Moghultuly and spent the night there.
On March 16, 1948, a student meeting was held at the Dhaka University Campus demanding Bengali to be the National Language. After the meeting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
led a rally towards the Assembly Hall. The rally passed Engineering College, Dhaka Medical College and reached the four corners near Assembly Hall. The students surrounded the Hall and laid a siege. The members of the assembly, the speaker, deputy speaker and the MPs were all encircled. Shawkat Ali, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others engaged in a heated exchange of words with the MPs and the District Magistrate. Suddenly, the students came under attack by the police. The policemen started using batons, tear gas shells and fired blanks. Nineteen activists were injured that day and Shawkat Ali was the most seriously hurt.
The Language Movement reached its climax in 1952 with the indiscriminate shooting by the police at protesters and killing four young men - Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed
Rafiq Uddin Ahmed
Rafiq Uddin Ahmed was a demonstrator killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations that took place in East Pakistan in 1952....
, Abul Barkat
Abul Barkat
Abul Barkat was a demonstrator killed during the Bengali Language Movement protests which took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan , in 1952....
and Abdul Jabbar.
Shawkat Ali led and organised and led many of the protests, rallies and picketing during the tragic and fateful days of February, 1952. He was arrested again on March 2, 1952 and was imprisoned for a long time.
Death
Shawkat Ali suffered a stroke on August 15, 1975 upon hearing the news of the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur RahmanAssassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place in the early hours of August 15, 1975, when a group of junior Bangladesh Army officers invaded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence with tanks...
. He died on August 18, 1975 at the Holy Family Hospital, Dhaka. He is buried in Jurain graveyard in Dhaka.
Family
On 1960, Shawkat Ali married Rahima Khatun, the vice-principal of Fazlul Haq Mohila College in Dhaka and President of the Nari Odhikar Bastabayon Sangstha. They had three sons and a daughter.Legacy
In 2011 Shawkat Ali was awarded the Ekushey PadakEkushey Padak
Ekushey Padak is one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 that took place on February 21, 1952.-2001:*Shah Abdul Karim...
one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Language Movement, with effect from January 17, 2010, Dhaka City Corporation
Dhaka City Corporation
Dhaka City Corporation is the former self-governing corporation that is associated with the task of running the affairs of the city of Dhaka. The incorporated area is divided into several wards. Each ward has an elected ward commissioner. The mayor of the city is elected by popular vote every five...
renamed Dhanmondi Road No. 4/A after him.