Bangladesh has introduced revised school textbooks for the 2025 academic year, which now credit Ziaur Rahman, rather than founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with declaring the country’s independence in 1971. The new curriculum has sparked significant debate, as it represents a shift from previously established narratives.
According to The Daily Star, the new textbooks for primary and secondary students state that “on March 26, 1971, Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh, and on March 27, he made another declaration on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” This revision was confirmed by Prof. AKM Reazul Hassan, chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, who explained that the information had been incorporated into free textbooks to reflect a “factual” account of the events.
One notable change is the omission of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s title, “Father of the Nation,” from the new textbooks. Writer and researcher Rakhal Raha, who contributed to the revisions, stated that the objective was to remove “exaggerated, imposed history.” He emphasized that previous claims suggesting Mujibur Rahman sent a wireless message declaring independence while under arrest by the Pakistani army lacked credible evidence, prompting its removal.
The controversy around the Declaration of Independence is not new. Supporters of the Awami League, the political party founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, assert that Mujibur had made the announcement, while Ziaur Rahman, then an Army major and later a Liberation War sector commander, merely read out the declaration on Mujib’s behalf. This longstanding debate has often seen textbook narratives altered to reflect the preferences of the government in power.
The curriculum revisions are part of broader efforts by Bangladesh’s interim government to reshape the nation’s historical and political symbols following the removal of Sheikh Hasina, Mujibur Rahman’s daughter, as prime minister on August 5. Since her ouster, efforts have intensified to diminish her father’s legacy in national discourse.
One significant move involves phasing out old currency notes bearing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image. Additionally, statues and murals depicting Mujibur Rahman have been targeted for removal, particularly after Sheikh Hasina fled to India. The government has also cancelled the national holiday on August 15, which previously commemorated Mujibur Rahman’s assassination in 1975.
The revisions to textbooks have drawn criticism from various quarters, with many accusing the interim government of rewriting history to serve political agendas. Proponents of the changes argue that the updated curriculum seeks to provide students with an unbiased and fact-based account of Bangladesh’s independence movement.
The developments mark a significant shift in the presentation of Bangladesh’s history and are expected to fuel further political and ideological debates in the country. As the controversy unfolds, questions about historical accuracy, political influence, and the preservation of national heritage remain at the forefront of public discourse.
