Abdul Jabbar (activist)

Abdul Jabbar (11 October 1919 – 21 February 1952) was a protester who was killed during the Bengali language movement in 1952 that took place in the erstwhile East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh).[1][2] He is considered a martyr in Bangladesh.[2][3]

Abdul Jabbar
আব্দুল জব্বার
Language martyr Abdul Jabbar
Born(1919-10-11)11 October 1919
Died21 February 1952(1952-02-21) (aged 32)
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma materDhopaghat Krishtobazar Primary School
Known forDemonstrator killed during Bengali Language Movement
SpouseAmina Khatun (m. 1949)
ChildrenNurul Islam Badol
Parents
  • Hasan Ali (father)
  • Safatun Nesa (mother)
AwardsEkushey Padak (2000)

Background

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Jabbar was born on 11 October 1919 in Panchua under the Gaffargaon, Mymensingh, East Bengal, British Raj. Although he received his primary education in the local educational institution called pathsala (Dhopaghat Krishtobazar Primary School), he failed to continue his education owing to poverty.[1]

Career

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Jabbar worked with his father farming in his village. He decided to travel to the river port town of Narayanganj by train. He got a job in Burma through an Englishman he met in Narayanganj. He worked there for 12 years before going back to Burma.[1] He was recruited in the British Indian Navy during World War Two but was discharged after being injured during training.[2] He was then working as a tailor.[4] He came to Dhaka, East Pakistan in 1952 with his wife for the medical treatment of his mother-in-law in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.[1]

Personal life

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In 1949, Jabbar married Amina Khatun, one of his friends' sister and settled down. One and a half year after the marriage, Amina had a baby boy, who was named Nurul Islam Badol.[1]

Events

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Epitaph on Jabbar's grave in Azimpur Graveyard (2007).

On 21 February 1952 the students in Dhaka bought a procession demanding Bengali be made a state language defying the Section 144 (curfew) imposed by the police. Jabbar joined the rally when it reached Dhaka Medical college. There the police fired on the rally injuring Jabbar. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College where he died.[1]

Legacy

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The Government of Bangladesh awarded Jabbar the Ekushey Padak in 2000.[1] The Bhasa Shaheed Abdul Jabbar Ansar-VDP School & College school operated by Ansar and Village Defense Party in named after him.[5][6] Shaheed Rafiq-Jabbar Hall, a dorm of Jahangirnagar University is also named after him and fellow language activist Rafiq Uddin Ahmed.[7]

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Grave of Jabbar (1919 – 1952) Language martyr at Azimpur graveyard, Dhaka.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Jabbar, Abdul". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Little has been done to remember my father". The Daily Star. 2008-02-11. Archived from the original on 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  3. ^ "Nation pays tributes to language movement martyrs". The Daily Star. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  4. ^ "Bangla earned thru' blood". The Daily Star. 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  5. ^ "Ansar-VDP: Vasha Shaheed Abdul Jabber School and College". www.theguardianbd.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  6. ^ "School kabaddi". The Daily Star. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  7. ^ "Arms found in JU, 3 BCL men held". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
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