Bangladesh revises textbooks, credits Ziaur Rahman for declaration of independence
What's the story
In a controversial move, the Bangladesh government has decided to revise its school textbooks to state that it was Ziaur Rahman who declared the country's independence in 1971. The change will be incorporated in new textbooks for primary and secondary students from the 2025 academic year, The Daily Star reported. Earlier, the educational materials had credited ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's father, "Bangabandhu" Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with making the historic declaration.
Curriculum changes
Textbook revisions aim to remove exaggerated historical accounts
Per the report, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) decided to remove exaggerated historical narratives and unnecessary glorification of individuals from educational materials. The decision comes after Hasina's government fell on August 5, and the NCTB reverted to the 2012 curriculum, discontinuing the National Curriculum-2022. Textbooks for grades four through nine are being revised while those for classes one to three will remain unchanged.
Revision process
Expert committees oversee textbook revisions
To implement these changes, expert committees have been formed to revise 33 textbooks across different grades. The committees comprise three to five subject matter experts, each responsible for making changes as instructed by the NCTB and the interim government. A member privy to the process revealed that narratives and speeches of Hasina will also be removed from the new textbooks.
Balanced representation
Revised textbooks to honor both Rahman and Ziaur equally
One committee member revealed that the revised textbooks will equally respect both Mujibur and Ziaur for their contributions to Bangladesh. Major subjects that are being significantly revised include Bangla, Mathematics, ICT, Bangladesh and Global Studies, Civics and Citizenship, History of Bangladesh, and World Civilization. The cover designs of all textbooks are also being updated or removed as part of this comprehensive revision process.
Textbook distribution
Distribution of revised textbooks has begun
The distribution of these revised textbooks started on January 1. They contain details about Ziaur's declaration of independence. Since 2010, under Hasina's rule, textbooks had stated that Mujibur declared independence through a wireless message before his arrest by the Pakistan army on March 26, 1971. But those who revised the textbooks didn't find this claim fact-based.