Rename ‘Bhasha Shahid Station’ and Recognise Language Martyrs Before Corporation Election: Bangali Nabanirman Sena

In a powerful display of public sentiment, the Bangali Nabanirman Sena (BNS) staged a 24-hour hunger strike on Sunday (July 20) at the premises of Silchar Railway Station, demanding the long-standing proposal to rename the station as “Bhasha Shahid Station” in honour of the 1961 language martyrs.

The protest that began at 10 AM on Sunday was withdrawn by Cachar Police at around 9 PM, and the members of the BNS and other protestors were detained and taken to Tarapur Thana. The protestors called this detention coercive and a violation of the right to peaceful demonstration.

The protest saw participation from representatives of several organisations and associations across the Cachar district, echoing a resounding call for the official recognition of the language martyrs who laid down their lives during the historic Bengali language movement in 1961.

“Successive governments have ignored this demand for decades. It is high time we rise above politics and intensify this movement instead of limiting our remembrance to just 19 May,” said one of the speakers at the event.

The demonstrators not only highlighted the lack of recognition for the 15 martyrs of the Barak Valley language movement but also drew comparisons with the 855 individuals who were granted martyr status during the Assam Agitation for the Assamese language. “We have deep respect for those who protected their language and were recognised. But our language martyrs have been denied the honour they rightfully deserve,” another participant said.

The protestors also criticised the ongoing demolition drives in Assam, alleging that the government is targeting the homes of poor and innocent people in the name of evicting illegal immigrants. They warned against the narrative that only one community is being targeted and called on all communities to unite to safeguard constitutional rights.

A senior member of the Sena asserted, “This is not just our demand, it is the demand of all of Barak Valley. If the government continues to ignore us, we are ready to go on 48-hour, 72-hour or even 100-hour strikes. And if that too doesn’t yield results, we are prepared to sacrifice our lives, just like our forefathers did.”

The speakers also mentioned Sudeshna Sinha, among others, and reiterated the demand that all 15 who died fighting for their mother tongue in Barak Valley be officially declared martyrs before the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections.