To speak or not to speak Urdu

The only Urdu-speaking community in Bangladesh, known as the Bihari community, is a historically unique group that has experienced two consecutive dislocations within a period of 25 years. The community and their language have a troubled history in the country. This study sought to qualitatively understand some Bangladeshi Urdu speakers’ Urdu-related experiences and perceptions from the perspective of minority language rights. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were then analyzed using a thematic analysis approach . Findings show that the research participants were aware of Urdu’s illegitimacy in public perceptions. This stigma attached to Urdu affected their adherence to the Urdu language and motivated them to prioritize learning Bangla for greater social and economic integration. The study identified a critical necessity for legal protections to strengthen the link between Urdu and Urdu speakers. This study significantly contributes to the extant literature on minority language rights by unveiling how the historical past, nation-building discourses, and media representations can potentially shape and reshape the language choice of a speech minority.