Bangladesh Rewriting History? New Textbooks Say Ziaur Rahman Declared 1971 Independence – News18

Last Updated:January 02, 2025, 08:48 IST

Bangladesh Rewriting textbooks on 1971 war: The new textbooks, with several changes, are being distributed among primary and secondary students starting from January 1

Bangladesh Rewriting Textbooks on 1971 War: The Bangladesh interim government has revised textbooks on the 1971 Liberation War to state that Ziaur Rahman declared the country’s independence, replacing the previous text which credited Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with the declaration.

According to a Daily Star report, the new textbooks, with several changes, are being distributed among primary and secondary students starting from January 1.

What Government Says

Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board Professor AKM Reazul Hassan said the new textbooks for the 2025 academic year will state “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”.

The information has been incorporated into the free textbooks where the declaration of independence was previously mentioned, he added.

Writer and researcher Rakhal Raha, who contributed to the revision of the textbooks, explained that their aim was to remove “exaggerated, imposed history” from the materials. “Those who revised the textbooks determined that the claim that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sent the wireless message declaring independence while being arrested by the Pakistani army was not based on factual information, so they decided to remove it.”

Prior Textbook Changes

In earlier textbooks for Classes 1 to 10, the attribution of the declaration of independence changed depending on the ruling government. Supporters of the Awami League widely believe that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the declaration, with Ziaur Rahman—who was an army major and later a sector commander during the Liberation War—simply reading it out on Mujib’s instructions. Conversely, supporters of the BNP argue that their party’s founder and former president, Ziaur Rahman, made the declaration.

Former NCTB officials recalled that during the Awami League’s rule from 1996 to 2001, textbooks stated that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the declaration, while Ziaur Rahman read it aloud. When the BNP was in power from 2001 to 2006, however, the textbooks stated that Ziaur Rahman had made the declaration. These officials, however, could not recall what was written in textbooks prior to 1996.

Will The Move Spark A Row?

Asked whether the revision would ignite new debates given the differing beliefs, Reazul responded, “Of course not. This isn’t a matter related to Awami League or BNP. This is a national issue. We want to ensure due recognition is given to individuals like Maulana Bhashani and Tajuddin Ahmed, who also played significant roles in the Liberation War. Our focus is on ensuring a consistent, fact-based representation.”

Former NCTB officials also pointed out that, although the ruling powers frequently changed the name of the individual who declared independence, the constitution, which names Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the “Father of the Nation,” includes the telegram of Bangladesh’s Declaration of Independence made by Bangabandhu on March 26, 1971, in the sixth schedule. The constitution also includes the Proclamation of Independence of the Mujibnagar Government on April 10, 1971, in the seventh schedule.

As part of the revisions, the NCTB has also removed the title “Father of the Nation” from references to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Location :

Dhaka, Bangladesh