In 1947, following the partition of India, East Bengal became part of the Dominion of Pakistan. Despite comprising the majority with 44 million people, East Bengal's Bengali-speaking population found themselves underrepresented in Pakistan's government, civil services, and military, which were dominated by the western wing.^[1] A pivotal event occurred in 1947 at a national education summit in Karachi, where a resolution advocated Urdu as the sole state language, sparking immediate opposition in East Bengal. Led by Abul Kashem, students in Dhaka demanded Bengali recognition as an official language and as a medium of education.^[2] Despite these protests, the Pakistan Public Service Commission excluded Bengali from official use, intensifying public outrage.^[3]

This led to significant protests, particularly on 21 February 1952, when students in Dhaka defied a ban on public gatherings. The police responded with tear gas and gunfire, leading to several student deaths.^[1] The violence escalated into city-wide disorder, with widespread strikes and shutdowns. Despite pleas from local legislators, the chief minister, Nurul Amin, refused to address the issue adequately.

These events led to constitutional reforms. Bengali gained recognition as an official language alongside Urdu in 1954, formalized in the 1956 Constitution. However, the military regime under Ayub Khan later attempted to re-establish Urdu as the sole national language.^[4]

The language movement was a significant factor leading to the Bangladesh Liberation War. The military regime's favoritism towards West Pakistan, coupled with economic and political disparities, fueled resentment in East Pakistan. The Awami League's call for greater provincial autonomy and the renaming of East Pakistan to Bangladesh were central to these tensions, eventually culminating in Bangladesh's independence.