Full Name: Abul Barkat
Birth Date: June 16, 1927
Birth Place: Murshidabad, West Bengal, India
Died: February 21, 1952
Death Place: Dhaka Medical College Hospital
Education: University of Dhaka
Occupation: Language Fighter
Spouse (s): Not Married
Religion: Islam
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Abul Barkat is a martyr of the Language Movement of Bangladesh. He is highly respected around the country for sacrificing his life in 1952 demanding that Bengali will be the state language of Pakistan. Barkat’s life sacrifice encouraged the people to achieve freedom from Pakistan after a nine-month bloody war. He was not a direct participant in the language movement, but he was shot in the hostel corridor when police fired toward the protestors.
Early Life:
Abul Barkat was born on June 16, 1927, in Babla village, Bharatpur, Murshidabad, West Bengal, British Raj (now India). His father was Shamsuzzoha and his mother was Hasina Bibi. He completed primary education at Babla primary school. Barkat completed matriculation in 1945 from Talibpur High School. In 1947, he completed intermediate from Krishnath College.
Following the partition of India, he moved to Dhaka in 1948 and enrolled at the University of Dhaka. Barkat completed graduation in political science from the University of Dhaka in 1951 and began Master’s at the same university majoring in political science.
Language Movement:
On February 21, 1952, Abul Barkat was shot by the Pakistani police while students bought out a movement demanding Bengali will be the national language of Pakistan despite Section 144. He was seriously injured and admitted to the Dhaka Medical College. After a few hours, Barkat died around 8 PM on 21 February at the Dhaka Medical College. He was buried in the Azimpur Graveyard, but his grave has been lost.
Legacy:
A museum has been built on the Dhaka University campus after his name and he was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2000 along with other three martyrs. About his life, a documentary film ‘Bayanno’r Michhil’ was made.