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An article titled Memories of the War of Independence, written by former president Ziaur Rahman, will be included in Bangladesh’s Class IX-X Bangla Literature textbook from the 2027 academic year.
The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has also taken an initiative to include an image of a diary Ziaur Rahman kept during the Liberation War, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.
The National Curriculum Coordination Committee (NCCC) has given final approval for the article to be included as a new chapter in the textbook, according to NCTB Chairman Professor Mohammed Fakhrul Mawla.
He said the initiative was aimed at presenting the contributions of different individuals to the Liberation War in an impartial and objective manner.
The decision was taken at an NCCC meeting chaired by the secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division on August 24.
According to NCTB curriculum officials, Ziaur Rahman is described in the author introduction as a proclaimer of independence, former president, army chief, commander of Z Force, commander of Sector 1 and a recipient of the Bir Uttam title.
An explanatory note preceding the article describes A Nation Is Born, published in Dainik Bangla in 1972, and Memories of the War of Independence, published in Dainik Desh in 1980, as important documents on the Liberation War. It also states that Bangladesh’s independence was not the achievement of any single individual or political party.
The article recounts Ziaur Rahman’s memories of the armed uprising in Chattogram in March 1971, the declaration of independence from Kalurghat Radio Station and various battles during the Liberation War.
It includes his account of Pakistani military movements in Chattogram, the events of the night of March 25, his decision to launch an uprising, the establishment of a liberated area in Patiya and the broadcast from Kalurghat.
National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah told BSS that the article had historical value and that its inclusion would help students learn about the struggle for independence. He said including it in the textbook was justified.
Professor Shah Shamim Ahmed of Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research said the article would give future generations an opportunity to learn about the history of the Liberation War. He also said political changes in the past had resulted in one-sided accounts of history.
Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque said the NCCC had unanimously approved the article, adding that it would help the younger generation learn about the history of the Liberation War.
