Bangladesh removes “Father of the Nation” title for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from textbooks

Bangladesh has published new text books for primary and secondary students that write that former army major and president Ziaur Rahman had declared the independence in 1971 rather than Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Daily Star reported that the text books earlier mentioned Rahman had declared the independence. Moreover, the title “Father of the Nation” for Rahman has also been removed.

National Curriculum and Textbook Board’s Chairman Professor AKM Reazul Hassan told the media the new books will state that Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971, and on March 27, he made another declaration of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu.

Since 2010, the textbooks had been mentioning that Rahman declared the independence via a wireless message just before his arrest.

The official further said the information was included in the free textbooks where the matter of the declaration was mentioned.

Writer and researcher Rakhal Raha said they tried to free the textbooks from “exaggerated, imposed history”.