Page "Bangladesh Awami League" Paragraph 17

In 1948, there was rising agitation in East Bengal against the omission of Bengali script from coins, stamps and government exams.

Thousands of students, mainly from the University of Dhaka, protested in Dhaka and clashed with security forces.

Prominent student leaders including Shamsul Huq, Shawkat Ali, Kazi Golam Mahboob, Oli Ahad, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Abdul Wahed were arrested and the police were accused of excessive brutality while charging protesters.

In March, senior Bengali political leaders were attacked whilst leading protests demanding that Bengali be declared an official language in Pakistan.

The leaders included the A. K. Fazlul Huq, the former Prime Minister of undivided Bengal.