Major changes brought in new textbooks

The interim government has introduced the 2012 education curriculum in the textbooks of the education sector, excluding the creative curriculum introduced by the previous government. Various events of the July Movement have been added to the books of different classes. On the first day of the new year, the textbooks of the new academic year prepared by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) were handed over to the students in a limited scope. Online versions of all the revised and refined books are available on the NCTB website.

It has been seen that various stories, pictures, cartoons, graffiti, and other topics related to the July Uprising of the students and the public have been included in the changed textbooks of different classes. Extensive changes have been brought in the political history of the last 15 years. The story of the fall of Sheikh Hasina has also been highlighted in the books of ninth and tenth classes. The new curriculum textbook mentions that along with the declaration of independence of Bangladesh on March 26, the next day, the declaration on behalf of Bangabandhu was once again broadcast on the airwaves in the voice of Major Ziaur Rahman.

The chapter ‘Amader Notun Gourabgatha’ has been given space in these two classes of Bengali literature books. In this chapter, the story of the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government is presented as follows – that day, August 5, 2024-July 36. The Bangladeshi calendar has stopped in July. Not only the country but also the people of the whole world are looking at Bangladesh. The protesting students and the masses have put forward a point of demand. People from all over the country are running to Dhaka. They will surround Ganabhaban. They will uproot the fascist ruler who is clinging to power. People were seen on the Uttara road of Dhaka, ignoring the curfew. People started gathering slowly towards Jatrabari. The crowd of people descended. The crowd reached Ganabhaban by noon. Sensing that the fall was imminent, the autocratic head of government fled the country.’

The chapter also says that the government seized power through a farce election in early 2024. It also mentions the contribution of various private universities, schools, colleges and madrasa students in overthrowing the Hasina government. It says that the movement program could have lost momentum after the government closed the halls of Dhaka University. But various private universities, schools, colleges and madrasa students came forward in large numbers.

The chapter Amader Notun Gourabgatha’ also mentions the long misrule during the Awami League era. It mentions that arbitrary torture and disappearances and murders were committed due to minor demands. It also mentions that various financial institutions including banks were looted year after year.

It also says that the story of the Liberation War was the main support for the previous government to run its monstrous rule. But people saw that thousands of certificated freedom fighters were born after the Liberation War. Many took advantage of jobs by collecting fake certificates. The government has tried to cover up all the irregularities and illegalities with the structural 'story of development'.

In addition to the ninth-tenth grade Bengali literature, many significant changes have been made in various textbooks of other classes as well. Among these, the extra Sheikh Mujib Bandana has been removed from the textbooks. The biographies of the four leaders include Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) Chairman Professor AKM Riazul Hasan said that several fundamental changes have been made in the new textbooks. Excessive bandana and exaggeration have been removed from the history section. Information about many whose contributions were previously excluded from the book is being added. In addition, many texts have been made age-appropriate and easy to understand. These have been added in the new situation after the July Uprising. Graffiti from the July Uprising is being added to the back page of the book.