I would like to recommend a recent movie on Women of the Bangla Language Movement called Bhashajoyita by Shabnam Ferdousi. Following is an excerpt on the movie from a post by Ihtisham Kabir at ‘Back to Bangladesh‘.

“The movie itself is priceless because it has a lot of interview footage with, and about, the role of women in the Language Movement. It weaves the story of the Movement with these interviews, historical footage and location shots. It becomes clear, for example, how hard it was for women at that time to participate in political movements. In retrospect it looks like the obvious thing to do, but breaking the 144-Rule (against congregating in groups) on Feb 21, 1952, was not an easy decision. Only a handful of the women students in the university had the guts to do it…

While most of the movie is centered around Dhaka, it also travels to Sylhet and Barisal. In Sylhet, several women leaders and their work is discussed, including Zobeda Rahim Choudhury, and Syeda Najibunnesa Khatun. These women were active in politics, first against the British, and, after 1947, in the Language Movement. Rani Bhattacharya and her group’s role in Barisal are also discussed. Bhasha-Shoiniks Mr Muhith, Mr Rafik and Mr Matin are among other interviewees.”

(For those unfamiliar with Bangladesh history: the Language Movement was what led to independent Bangladesh. When the British left India in 1947, two countries were formed: Pakistan and India. Pakistan was geographically split into East Pakistan (Bangla-speaking) and West Pakistan (Urdu-speaking), with India in middle. When the Pakistan government tried to impose Urdu as the only national language of Pakistan, the Bangla-speaking people of East Pakistan protested, resulting in the Language Movement. Source: Back to Bangladesh)