There is a thousand years of history behind naming this country Bangladesh. Historians analyze how this country was named Bangladesh by dividing it into several periods of history.
Talking to BBC Bangla, Dhaka University Professor of History. Syed Anwar Hossain also gave the original explanation of the word "Bangladesh".
Where the word "Bangla" originates from the Sanskrit word "Banga". It is known from history that the Aryans used to call this region "Banga".
However, Muslims living in Bengal add the Persian suffix "al" to the word "Bengal". The name stands for "Bangal" or "Bangalah".
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"Al" meant the division of land or the construction of a dam on a river.Quoting historian Abul Fazl, Syed Anwar Hossain said, "During the Muslim rule, especially during the Sultanate period from 1336 to 158 and after the Mughals occupied Bengal in 158, the region came to be known as Bangal or Bangalah."
But Bengali, Bangal or Desh - these three words come from Persian language. None is a Bengali word.
Then at different times different kings gave different names to this Bengal during their occupation.
The last independent Nawab Sirajuddaula also named "Banga" after several presidencies like Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Assam.
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Dhaka University Professor of History. Syed Anwar Hossain.
Dhaka University Professor of History. Syed Anwar Hossain.
Photo source, AKBAR HOSSAIN
Photo caption,
Dhaka University Professor of History. Syed Anwar Hossain.
During the British rule, this region was called Bengal Presidency.
Then during the Partition of Bengal in 1905 an administrative division took place in the whole of Bengal. The western part of Bengal became West Bengal and the eastern part became East Bengal.
After the end of British colonial rule in 1947, the province of Bengal was divided into India and Pakistan. At that time Pakistanis wanted to name East Bengal as East Pakistan.
But the debate started from that time. Following the movement, Bengali was recognized as the mother tongue of East Pakistan in 1952.Then in Karachi in 1956, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a young member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, protested against the name "East Pakistan" and said that there was a history and tradition called East Bengal.
"And if East Pakistan is to be named, then the public opinion of the people of Bengal has to be checked. Whether they will accept this change of name - that's why a referendum has to be held."
Then in 1972 a secret organization of Chhatra League called Nucleus was established under the leadership of Sirajul Alam Khan. Who thought for freedom. They called this region Independent East Bengal.
Flag of Bangladesh.
Photo source, MUNIR UZ ZAMAN
Photo caption,
Flag of Bangladesh.
Then came 1989. The Ayub fall movement began. At that time, the slogan of the mass uprising was "Hold the arms of brave Bengalis, make Bangladesh independent."
According to history, that first East Bengal was called "Bangladesh".
Later, on 5 December 1979, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared in a discussion meeting on the occasion of the 6th death anniversary of Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy, the son of democracy, "Our independent country will be called Bangladesh".
At that meeting, the Awami League leaders proposed different names. Later, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proposed the name "Bangladesh", everyone agreed unanimously.
The reason for giving this name, he said, was "Bangla" from the Bengali language acquired through the struggle in 1952, then the country from the struggle for an independent country. These two histories and struggles are named "Bangladesh".
Even then, even if East Pakistan was to be written in the documents, no one would utter East Pakistan orally. Everyone said Bangladesh.
Since then no one has called this country East Pakistan. Everyone said that Bangladesh was recognized as mind and soul. Syed Anwar Hossain.
Red and green flags are flying on the canvas.
Photo source, DIBYANGSHU SARKAR
Photo caption,
Red and green flags are flying on the canvas.
Then the Mujibnagar government proclaimed independence - the name of the country is "Bangladesh".
Then on November 4, 1972, when the first constitution was drafted and adopted, the country was given the constitutional name "Bangladesh".
Besides, in nineteenth century literature undivided Bengal was called "Bangadesh" or "Bangladesh".
The word "Bangadesh" is mentioned in Bankimchandra's literature. Kazi Nazrul Islam used the name "Bangladesh" in his poems in the thirties. The name "Bangladesh" has also been mentioned in Ray's films.
On the other hand, Rabindranath Tagore called Bengali "Sonar Bangla" and Jibanananda Das called it "Ruposhi Bangla"
