Bangladesh drops Sheikh Mujib’s ‘Father of the Nation’ title in new textbooks

Bangladesh has updated its school textbooks to credit Ziaur Rahman, a former military leader and president, with declaring the country’s independence in 1971, according to a report by The Daily Star.

The move overturns decades of precedent, which attributed the declaration to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s former prime minister and widely regarded as its founding father.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) chairman, Professor AKM Reazul Hassan, confirmed the change, stating that the revised books for the 2025 academic year now read:

"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."

Bangladesh ex-Prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid Reuters

The shift comes in the wake of Sheikh Hasina Wajid, Mujibur Rahman’s daughter, being ousted as prime minister on August 5, 2024. Following her removal, reports surfaced of statues and murals of Mujibur Rahman being defaced, alongside the gradual phasing out of currency notes bearing his image.

Writer and researcher Rakhal Raha, involved in the textbook revisions, described the changes as an effort to correct what he called "exaggerated, imposed history."

He noted the absence of verifiable evidence supporting claims that Mujibur Rahman issued a wireless proclamation of independence while detained by the Pakistani military.

The revision has reignited a longstanding political debate over the independence declaration. Awami League supporters argue Mujibur Rahman issued the proclamation, which Ziaur Rahman, then an army major, read under his directive.

People climb the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bijoy Sarani area, as they celebrate the resignation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 5. Reuters

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, Ziaur Rahman’s widow, contends he acted independently.

According toNDTV, the revisions reflect a history of politically motivated narratives in Bangladeshi textbooks, shifting with changes in government. During the Awami League’s rule, Mujibur Rahman was credited. Under BNP administrations, Ziaur Rahman received the recognition.

This contentious change has further polarized opinions in Bangladesh, underscoring the enduring politicization of its history.