আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাঙানো একুশে ফেব্রুয়ারি
আমি কি ভুলিতে পারি
ছেলেহারা শত মায়ের অশ্রু গড়ায়ে ফেব্রুয়ারি
আমি কি ভুলিতে পারি
আমার সোনার দেশের রক্তে রাঙানো ফেব্রুয়ারি
আমি কি ভুলিতে পারি।।
In a tribute to the historic Bengali Language Movement of 1952 in East Pakistan, the timeless anthem “Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano,” commonly known as “Ekusher Gaan”, has become a cultural touchstone. Penned by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, the song was first introduced anonymously on the last page of a newspaper under the title “Ekusher Gaan”. Its eventual publication in the February edition of Ekushey brought it to the forefront.
Originally conceived as a poem at the bedside of an injured language movement activist targeted by the Pakistani military police, the poem was later set to music by Abdul Latif at the suggestion of the Jubo League’s cultural secretary. Initially sung by Latif and Atikul Islam, the anthem gained popularity when students from Dhaka College, expelled for attempting to erect a Shaheed Minar on campus, adopted it as their rallying cry.
The song’s journey took a significant turn when Altaf Mahmud, a distinguished composer and a martyr of the Bangladesh Liberation War, reworked the tune based on Abdul Latif’s rendition. This version has since evolved into a quasi-official melody, cementing the anthem’s enduring legacy. As Ekusher Gaan commemorates its 72nd anniversary, it continues to resonate as a symbol of resilience and the struggle for linguistic rights.