A language hero’s search for patriotism

“I shall never forget Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani’s advice of loving this country, my nation with patriotism. And I still continue to do that.”

The language hero, Abdul Quader Bhasani now 88 years old said he gets teary eyed when he sees people have no patriotism in them.

“The Tamuddinee Majlish men, followers of Muslim league were against the mother tongue Bangla during the language movement. These types of people still exist and conspire against the mother tongue,” he said.

The language hero was central committee member of National Awami Party (NAP) Bhasani. He was given the Bhasani title by Majlum Jananeta Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, president of NAP Bhasani in 1960.

“I addressed the great leader Bhasani as my father, and Mawlana Bhasani also loved me as a son. I was with the leader until his death,” he said.

The Lalmonirhat language hero was born on 16 December in 1928 and was in class ten in Lalmonirhat Govt Boys’ School during the language movement in 1952.  During the language movement, he spent time in jail and faced police harassment several times.

He passed matriculation with first division in 1953 and was admitted in Carmichael college but didn’t obtain his intermediate school certificate as he was directly involved with NAP Bhasani politics in greater Rangpur then.

“I started accompanying our leader Bhasani since 1956 and visited many areas with him.”

Abdul Quader Bhasani is a still an energetic man and works on his field everyday with a bumper production of crops to his credit and is held in high esteem among the village people.