The song was initially written as a poem in 1952 at the bedside of an injured language movement activist who was shot by the Pakistani military police.

Altaf Mahmud, a renowned composer and a martyr of the Bangladesh Liberation War, recomposed the song in 1969 using Abdul Latif's version, which is now a quasi-official tune.

Every 21 February sees people from all parts of the Bangladesh heading to the Shaheed Minar in the probhat feri, a barefoot march to the monument, paying homage to those killed in the language movement demonstrations by singing this song.

Wake up all serpents, all summer thunderstorms, Let the whole world rise up in anger and protest against the massacre of innocent children.

It was a smooth and pleasant night with the winter nearly gone, and the moon smiling in the blue sky, and lovely fragrant flowers blossoming on the roadside, and all of a sudden rose a storm.

They fired at the soul of this land, They tried to silence the demand of the people, They kicked at the bosom of Bengal, they did not belong to this country.

But today everywhere the somnolent strength of the people have begun to stir, And we shall set February ablaze by the flame of our fierce anger.