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"I know, sir, that Bengali is a provincial language, but, so far our state is concerned, it is the language of the majority of the people of the state and it stands on a different footing. Out of six crores and ninety lakhs of people inhabiting this state, four crores and forty lakhs of people speak the Bengali language. So, sir what should be the state language of the state Pakistan? The state language of the state should be the state language which is used by the majority of the people of the state, and for that, sir, I consider that Bengali language is lingo franca of our state.... So we are to consider that in our state it is found that the majority of the people of the state do speak the Bengali language, then Bengali should have an honored place even in the central government."
Dhirendranath Datta
