Editor-DN
Last update:
Bangladesh rewrites textbooks on 1971 war: New textbooks, with several changes, are being distributed to primary and secondary students from January 1.
Bangladesh’s sixth president Zia-ur-Rehman (left) and first president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh is rewriting the textbooks on the 1971 war: Bangladesh’s interim government has revised textbooks on the 1971 War of Independence to state that Zia-ur-Rehman declared the country’s independence, replacing the previous text that credited Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur-Rehman with the declaration. was given to
According to one The Daily Star According to the report, the new textbooks, with several changes, are being distributed to primary and secondary students from January 1.
What does the government say?
National Curriculum and Textbook Board Chairman Professor AKM Riazul Hasan said that the new textbooks for the academic year 2025 will state that “On March 26, 1971, Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh, and on March 27 , he made another declaration of independence by Bangabandhu”.
He added that the information has been included in the free textbooks where the Declaration of Independence was first mentioned.
Author and researcher Rakhil Raha, who contributed to the revision of the textbooks, explained that his aim was to remove “exaggerated, imposed history” from the material. Declaring independence while under arrest by the Pakistani army was not based on factual information, so they decided to remove it.
Changes to earlier textbooks
In earlier textbooks for classes 1 to 10, the attribution of the Declaration of Independence depends on the ruling government. Awami League supporters widely believe that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the announcement with Ziaur Rahman—an army major and later a sector commander during the War of Independence—reading it out only on Mujib’s instructions. On the contrary, BNP supporters say that the announcement was made by their party founder and former president Zia-ur-Rehman.
Former NCTB officials recalled that during the Awami League regime from 1996 to 2001, textbooks said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had made the announcement, while Ziaur Rahman read it aloud. When the BNP was in power from 2001 to 2006, however, textbooks stated that Ziaur Rahman had made the announcement. However, these officials could not recall what was written in the pre-1996 textbooks.
Will this move spark a row?
Asked if the revision would spark a fresh debate in view of differing beliefs, Riazul replied, “Of course not. This is not a matter of Awami League or BNP. It is a national issue. We are talking about it.” We want to ensure that personalities like Maulana Bhashani and Tajuddin Ahmed, who also played an important role in the freedom struggle, are given due recognition. Our focus is on ensuring a consistent, factual representation.”
Former NCTB officials also pointed out that although the ruling powers often changed the name of the person who proclaimed independence, the constitution, which calls Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the “Father of the Nation”, Bangladesh Also included is a telegram announcing the independence of The Constitution of 26 March 1971 also included the declaration of the Sixth Schedule. Independence of the Mujeebnagar Government on 10 April 1971 in the Seventh Schedule.
As part of the review, the NCTB has also removed the title of “Father of the Nation” from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- Location:
Dhaka, Bangladesh
