Bangladesh has introduced new textbooks for primary and secondary students, stating that former army major and president Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971 instead of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Previously, the textbooks mentioned that Rahman had made the declaration. Additionally, the title “Father of the Nation” for Rahman has been removed.
The new books, with several changes, were distributed among students starting from January 1.
National Curriculum and Textbook Board Chairman Professor AKM Reazul Hassan stated that the new textbooks for the 2025 academic year will mention that “on March 26, 1971, Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh, and on March 27, he made another declaration of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu.”
Since Sheikh Hasina’s second term as Prime Minister, textbooks had stated since 2010 that Rahman declared independence via a wireless message just before his arrest.
Hassan added that the information was included in the free textbooks, where the declaration of independence was mentioned.
Writer and researcher Rakhal Raha, who was part of the revision process, said they tried to free the textbooks from “exaggerated, imposed history.”
“Those who revised the textbooks found that it wasn’t fact-based information that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sent the wireless message [declaring independence]…”
It should be noted that the change in the declaration of independence in textbooks was made according to the government in power.
Supporters of the Awami League believe that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence while Rahman merely read out the declaration on his instructions.
