Abdul Matin (language activist)

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Abdul Matin
আব্দুল মতিন
Born(1926-12-03)3 December 1926
Dubalia, Sirajganj District, Bengal Presidency
Died8 October 2014(2014-10-08) (aged 87)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Other nameBhasha Matin
EducationMaster of Arts
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka
Political party
Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist)
Other political
affiliations
Communist Party of Bangladesh
National Awami Party
MovementBengali language movement
ChildrenMatia Banu Shuku[1]
AwardsIndependence Day Award

Abdul Matin (Bengali: আবদুল মতিন; 3 December 1926 – 8 October 2014) was a communist, language activist, and student leader of the Bengali language movement that took place in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) which sought recognition of Bengali as one of the state languages of Pakistan. He was one of the organizers of the movement. His contribution to the movement has been hailed by the other activists and students, as he was popularly known as Bhasha Matin.[2]

Early life

Matin was born on 3 December 1926 to Bengali Muslim parents, Abdul Jalil and Amena Khatun, in the village of Dubalia in Sirajganj, then part of Pabna District in the Bengal Presidency. Due to the Jamuna River floods, their home was destroyed, and the family resettled in Darjeeling. Matin was admitted to Maharani Boys' High School. He then enrolled at the Darjeeling Government High School in 1932 and completed his entrance exam in 1943. He then joined Rajshahi College, where he passed his Intermediate of Arts in 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dacca in 1947 and subsequently completed a Master of Arts in international relations. According to him, he had no political consciousness before getting into the college.[3]

Involvement in Language Movement

Matin was an active participant in the Bengali Language Movement. On 11 March 1948, he joined student protests against the government's decision not to recognize Bengali as one of the state languages. On 24 March 1948, he attended the convocation ceremony at the University of Dhaka, where Mohammad Ali Jinnah repeated his position on language policy following his speech at Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan). Matin was also present at the ceremony to receive his degree. When Jinnah repeated his position about language policy, however, Matin stood up at the chair and shouted, No. It can not be. Other students also supported him during that time.[4][5] In September 1951, at a meeting in the central building of Dhaka University, Matin stated that while there was no objection to Urdu, Bengali should be given equal status.[6] On 11 March 1951, during a rally organized by the East Pakistan Chatra League (Student League) at Dhaka University, he was selected as convener of the Dhaka University Language Action Committee. Khaleque Nawaz Khan, then president of the Chatra League, presided over the meeting. On 30 January 1952, Matin attended another meeting and became a member of the Shorbodolio Rashtrabhasha Kormoporishod (All‑Party State Language Action Committee).[7]

Other political involvements

Matin participated in a procession organized by fourth‑class clerks, during which he was arrested and imprisoned for two months. Following his release, the vice chancellor of the University of Dhaka asked him to sign a bond; when he refused, he was suspended for three years. In April 1952, he played a role in the formation of the Students Union and was elected the second president of its East Pakistan unit. In 1954, he was appointed secretary of the Communist Party's Pabna district unit. Three years later, he joined Maulana Bhasani's National Awami Party (NAP)[3]

In 1958, Matin founded the East Pakistan Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist), adopting the ideology of Charu Majumdar, a communist revolutionary from India.[3]

Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Matin fought against the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini and was arrested in 1972.[8]

Death

Matin died on 8 October 2014 at Bangladesh Medical University in Dhaka.[2][3] He was undergoing treatment at the ICU after a stroke on 18 August and was on life support after his condition deteriorated on 3 October.[8]

Awards

Abdul Matin, a prominent leader of the Language Movement, received numerous accolades throughout his life. A selection of his notable awards and honors is listed below:

Bibliography

Abdul Matin's published works include:[9]

  • 21 February O 1952 Saler Bhasha Andolon Prosange ২১ ফেব্রুয়ারি ও ১৯৫২ সালের ভাষা আন্দোলন প্রসঙ্গে [On the Occasion of February 21st and the Language Movement of 1952] (in Bengali). Dhaka. 12 February 1979.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Gono Chin-er Utpadon Byabostha O Dayitto Protha গণ চীনের উৎপাদন ব্যবস্থা ও দায়িত্ব প্রথা [The Production System and Responsibility System of the People's Republic of China] (in Bengali). 1985.
  • Bhasha O Ekusher Andolon ভাষা ও একুশের আন্দোলন [Language and the Movement of '21] (in Bengali). Dhaka. 1986.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Bhasha Andolon Ki Ebong Ta Te Ki Chhilo ভাষা আন্দোলন কি এবং তাতে কি ছিল [What Was the Language Movement and What Did It Entail?] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Nandan Prakashan. February 1989.
  • Matin, Abdul; Rafiq, Ahmad (1991). Bhasha Andolon: Itihas O Tatparya ভাষা আন্দোলন: ইতিহাস ও তাৎপর্য: আব্দুল মতিন ও আহমদ রফিক, জাতীয় সাহিত্য প্রকাশনী, ঢাকা ১৯৯১ [The Language Movement: History and Significance] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Jatiya Sahitya Prakashani.
  • Bangali Jatir Utso Sandhan O Bhasha Andolon বাঙালী জাতির উৎস সন্ধান ও ভাষা আন্দোলন, বুক পয়েন্ট ও সমাজ চেতনা পাবলিকেশন, ১৯৯৫ [Tracing the Origins of the Bengali Nation and the Language Movement] (in Bengali). Book Point and Samaj Chetana Publications. 1995.
  • Jibon Pother Banke Banke জীবন পথের বাঁকে বাঁকে [At Every Turn of Life's Path] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Sahityika. 2004.

References

  1. "Language movement hero Matin no more". The Daily Star. 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
  2. "Bhasha Matin passes away". banglanews24.com. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014.
  3. Harun-or-Rashid (2012). "Matin, Abdul". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). 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 1 July 2026.
  4. Ekusher Smriticharon '80 (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. 1980. p. 113.
  5. Banglabazar Patrika, Magh 30, 1399 {12 February 1993)]
  6. Sen, Shoronanondo (1971). Dhakar Chitthi (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Kolkata. p. 109.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. Ekusher Smriticharan '80 (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. 1980. p. 138.
  8. "Language movement hero Matin passes away". The Daily Star. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014.
  9. বাংলার চে ভাষা মতিন : একজন কমিউনিস্টের চীর বিদায় [Banglar Che Bhasha Matin: The last farewell of a communist]. Istishon.com (in Bengali). 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  10. "Language movement hero Matin no more". The Daily Star. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2025.