Matin still unconscious a week after operation

The 1952 Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin is still unconscious even a week after he underwent brain surgery, according to his family.

His brother-in-law Tipu Biswas said: “He has not yet regain consciousness after the surgery. (His) condition is neither good nor bad.”

Quoting doctors, he said Matin might recover slowly.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) leader was hospitalised on Aug 18 after he suffered a stroke.

File Photo

He was later shifted from Mohammadpur's City Hospital to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) where he went under the knife on Aug 20 for removal of blood clotted in the brain.

BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Pran Gopal Dutta said the hospital was footing his bills.

Matin is well known as ‘Bhasha (Language) Matin’ for his role in the 1952 Language Movement as the convener of Sorbodolio Rashtrabhasha Sangram Committee (All-Party State Language Action Committee).

Matin enrolled in Dhaka University in 1945. He played a key role in formation of the Chhatra Union after the Language Movement and later became its chief.

Father of two daughters, Matin was born in Dhublia village under Chouhali Upazial in Sirajganj on Dec 3, 1926. He lives in Mohammadpur in Dhaka.

Matin was made Pabna district committee chief of the CPB in 1954. Later in 1957, he joined the National Awami Party (NAP) formed by Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani.

He formed the East Pakistan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) in 1958 and later played a vital role in the formation of the Workers Party.

Matin quit the Workers Party in 2006 only to return in 2009 when the party was reorganised under the leadership of Haider Akbar Khan Rono.

He authored several books including ‘Bangali Jatir Utsa Sondhan O Bhasha Andolon’, Bhasha Andolon Ki O Keno’, ‘Bhasha Andoloner Itihas’ and ‘Jibon Pother Banke Banke’.