The caretaker government of Bangladesh revised the national curriculum, replacing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with General Ziaur Rahman as the founding figure of the nation.
The move, he said, aims to correct historical inaccuracies in school textbooks.
According to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, the updated texts claim that Ziaur Rahman was the first to proclaim the independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 through Bangla Radio.
The official announcement of independence by Sheikh Mujib on March 27 is also mentioned but recontextualized.
The changes to the program come after Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule ended last year following student protests. Critics have long accused Hasina’s government of manipulating historical narratives to align with its political legacy.
Rokhl Raha, a researcher involved in revising the curriculum, said previous textbooks contained exaggerated narratives that needed to be corrected.
He added: “Our goal was to provide fact-based stories, free from political bias. »
The revisions could reignite political tensions.
Supporters of Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh’s independence movement, consider him the father of the nation. Meanwhile, Ziaur Rahman’s supporters argue that he not only declared independence but then saved the country from Mujib’s pro-India policies.
This divide has shaped Bangladeshi politics for decades, with Mujib’s daughter Sheikh Hasina and Zia’s widow Khaleda Zia dominating the political landscape. The rivalry often led to one decision while the other faced imprisonment.
The curriculum changes mark a significant shift in Bangladesh’s approach to teaching about its tumultuous history and will likely fuel new debates about its national identity.
Thousands march in Bangladesh to mark student-led uprising
Thousands of Bangladeshis gathered for a “Unity March” in the capital Dhaka on Tuesday to mark the student-led uprising five months ago that led to the ouster of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and remember the more than 1,000 deaths in this violence.
The Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group, leading the protests, abandoned plans at the rally to call for changes to the country’s 1972 constitution, after the interim government announced on Monday that it would prepare a proclamation.
The SAD asserts that a “Proclamation of the July Revolution” is essential to honor the sacrifice of the dead or injured protesters and to serve as a document reflecting the aspirations of the people. Some political analysts have expressed concern about the risk of further instability if students seek to change the constitution without a broader consensus.
The press office of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who heads the interim government, said he would seek national consensus on a “July Uprising Declaration,” focused on unity, state reform and the broader goals of the uprising.
He expressed hope that a declaration would be finalized soon. On Tuesday, groups of students arrived from across the country and families of those killed in the unrest also joined the rally. They carried the national flag and chanted slogans against Hasina.
“My son Shahriar, a ninth-grade student, was killed (during the protests),” Abul Hasan said at the rally. “Our tears will never stop, this pain will never stop.” The protests were initially sparked by opposition to public sector employment quotas. What began as a student-led movement quickly morphed into a broader national uprising against Hasina’s government.
The unrest came to a head on August 5, when the violence forced Hasina to resign and flee to India, just before protesters stormed her official residence. More than 1,000 people have been killed during the protests. An interim government was formed, tasked with restoring stability and preparing for elections.
