Laldighi Maidan Photo: STAR

Some places, grounds, writings are witnesses to the history. The Laldighi Maidan is one such, observing many historical and socio-political and cultural course of events in the port city.
It is situated on the southern side of Laldighi.
In British era, a building was constructed named Lal Ghar on the southern part of the Laldighi. During the period, from Laldighi to present Muslim High School, there was a hill named Marcott' Saheber Pahar (Mr Marcott's hill) and on the hilltop a building was constructed named Lal Kuthi. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) headquarters is now situated there.
As the plain ground fell between the two buildings, it was named Laldighi Maidan (Laldighi ground) by locals.
Laldighi premise has been the central point of all political and cultural activities of the city for the last 150 years.
The plain land from CMP headquarters hill to Parir Pahar (present court hill) was known as 'Municipal Maidan' during the British era.
In late nineteenth century, a road was constructed north to south, dividing the place into two portions. Then the east side was transformed into a playground. Muslim High School has been using it as the playground which is now known as Laldighi premises.
Mammoth gatherings were held at the ground during the British period on various political issues.
At the time of Khilafat movement and Swadeshi movement, it was the key place of all political rallies.
Laldighi Maidan is also a witness to many events of the historical Language Movement. When Mohhamad Ali Jinnah announced that 'Urdu and Urdu shall be the state language of Pakistan' instantly a rally was held on the Laldighi premises. To make the rally a success, poet Mahbub ul Alam Chowdhury, Shahid Saber and Gopal Biswas took a tom-tom on the road. The activists of All Pakistan Muslim Chhatra league and Muslim League attacked them and foiled the rally.
On February 21, 1952 police fired on protesters in Dhaka. As the news of the martyrdoms of the language heroes reached Chittagong at 2:30pm, the people led by Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury and the cultural activists led by educationist Abul Fazal brought out processions from Waziullah Institute. All processions led to Laldighi Maidan and a huge rally was held there.
The organisers called hartal and a public meeting at Laldighi on February 22.
At that time Kurshid Mahal and adjoining petrol pump were part of the ground.
First Shaheed Minar in Chittagong was constructed at that place on February 23, 1952 that lasted for only three days as Pakistani police destroyed it.
From February 23 to 29, five huge rallies were held at Laldighi Maidan. The rallies resolved to carry forward the Language Movement and boycott classes until the demands were fulfilled.
The then firebrand national leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced the historical six points on the Laldighi premises on February amid thunderous applause.
The ground also observed many historical events such as movements against killers and collaborators, anti-autocracy movement and mass uprising of 1990.