Bangladesh revises history, textbooks to say Ziaur Rahman declared independence
India TodayThe Bangladesh government has decided to eliminate any "exaggerated" historical information or "unnecessary" glorification of individuals from textbooks for the upcoming academic year, according to officials from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. The new textbooks for primary and secondary students will now state that Ziaur Rahman — not ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — declared the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, a report by The Daily Star said. Awami League supporters believe Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence, with Ziaur Rahman reading it on his instructions. A member involved in the process spoke to The Daily Star and said, "Many textbooks written during the previous government's tenure contain narratives and speeches of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, along with other exaggerated information.