Matiur Rahman Mallik (24 January 1953 – 24 January 1969) was a

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

national activist. He was killed by the Pakistani police during

1969 uprising in East Pakistan The 1969 East Pakistan mass uprising () was a democratic political uprising in East Pakistan. It was led by the students backed by various political parties such as the Awami League, National Awami Party, and Communist party of East Pakistan and ...

. He received the

Independence Day Award The Independence Award (), formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak (), is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Banglade ...

from the

Government of Bangladesh The government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh () is the central government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Constitution of Bangladesh comprising the executive (the president, prime minister and cabinet), the ...

in 2018.

Background

Malik was the son of Azhar Ali Mallik from

Sabujbagh Sabujbagh () is a thana (police jurisdiction) in Dhaka District in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Situated in the administrative area of Dhaka South City Corporation, the thana was formed in 1988. The police station is located at holding number 203 in Middle ...

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...

. He was a Standard IX student of Nabakumar Institution when he took part in a street march demanding autonomy for East Pakistan, the future country of Bangladesh. The uprising has historic significance and its spirit awakened people to fight for democracy and basic human rights, as it eventually led to the

independence of Bangladesh The independence of Bangladesh was Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence, declared from Pakistan on 26 March 1971, which is now celebrated as Independence Day (Bangladesh), Independence Day. The Bangladesh Liberation War started on 26 March ...

. A letter was found in Matiur's pocket after he was shot dead by the police. The letter said, "Mother, I am going to the procession, if I don't return, I will be afraid that I have become a martyr."

Commemoration

Bangladesh observes 24 January as

Mass Uprising Day Mass Uprising Day () is observed in Bangladesh on 24 January to mark the 1969 East Pakistan mass uprising, the climax of the movement of the people of the then East Pakistan for autonomy in 1969 that eventually led to the Independence War and emer ...

. Every year different social, cultural organisations and political parties do elaborate programmes in observance of the day. Malik's monument was erected at Nabakumar Institute, Bakshibazar, Dhaka.

References

1969 deaths Pakistani activists Causes and prelude of the Bangladesh Liberation War Recipients of the Independence Award 1953 births {{Bangladesh-bio-stub