Page 435 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

432 ART AND CRAFTS

concerning the Bengali language, during 1948-1952, constitute
a chapter of both grief and glory in our national history. Several
conscious professional and amateur photographers have
captured this chapter through their cameras. Photographers
Amanul Haq, Muhammad Taqiullah, the then university
student Rafiqul Islam (later a professor and doctorate) played a
historically significant role in this regard.
Muhammad Taqiullah, son of Dr. Muhamad Shahidullah has
immortalized the flow of events of the primary stage of the
Language Movement in his frames. The students and general
people in front of Ain Parishad (law council) of East Bengal,
Dhaka on 11 March, 1948, processions towards the secretariat
on the same day, resistance by police to the procession of
students and general people and the barricade in front of the
High Court, arrests of protestors etc. remain among the
photographs he took. Dr. Rafiqul Islam was a student of
Bengali language and literature at the Dhaka University. He
was also an amateur photographer. He has immortalized many
moments of the frenzied and lamentable events of 1952 with
his camera. Among the photographs he took are the historical
student gathering at Amtala before defying section 144 on 21
February of 1952, preparations to break section 144, the dead
fig. 10.6 The bullet hit body of martyr Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, police preparation to resist the student
head of the language processions, protests against police shootings on students held on 22 February of 1952,
martyr Rafiq Uddin shot raising a black flag on top of the old Arts building, the first construction of the Shaheed
and killed by the police Minar on 23 February, procession of female students on 21 February of 1953, barefoot
on 21 February 1952, procession at dawn (probhatferry), procession on Nawabpur Road (with politician
the only documentary Khan Ataur Rahman and others in the forefront), gathering commemorating the
photograph of the martyrs in front of the Arts faculty of Dhaka University (Zahir Raihan seated in the
language martyrs, front row) etc. Photographer Amanul Haq also took photographs of the bloodstained
photograph Amanul Haq
dead body of martyred Rafiq Uddin (fig. 10.6). Many political and cultural, movements
by the people and students took place at various times from 1954 and 1970 after the
Language Movement and till the War of Liberation took place in 1971. These
movements and the Liberation War also found their place in photography (fig. 10.7).
Natural Calamities and other Themes in Photography
Floods, epidemics, droughts, storms, cyclones, tornadoes etc. are common occurrences
in Bangladesh. Photographing natural calamities began during this period.
Photography related to these issues not only has news value, but also a humane appeal.
However, it is unfortunate yet true that the photographs of various natural calamities
before 1970 were not preserved. The photographs of the famine of 1943 are rare today.
After 1947, several floods and storms took place successively in this country. Some
photographs were published in newspapers in those times. Photographs of the deadly