Historians urged the government at a seminar yesterday to shape the country’s history along its liberation war spirit.
They also spoke for adding the country’s true history up to the year 1975 to the texts of all educations, including that of madrasa.
Bangladesh Itihas Sammilani (BIS) organised the seminar titled ‘Bangladesh’s study of history in new dimension: Liberation War’ at Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum in the capital.
BIS President Muntasir Mamun, Vice-president Prof Taibul Hasan Khan and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee acting president Shahriar Kabir, among others, spoke at the seminar.
“After 1947, studying history based on Pakistani genre had influenced us for the movement demanding Bangla as a mother language and it also influenced us for the liberation war. So our history should be based on the liberation war spirit,” said Shahriar Kabir.
He said after 1947, Pakistani scholars wrote their history fully based on Pakistani nationalism and spirit. On the other hand, Indian historians cited the liberation war between India and Pakistan, not between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
“The ‘Ga’ category history was written by Bangladeshis based on our liberation war. However, the books authored by pro-BNP writers seem to be the party’s manifestos because those books are written with distorting history for serving BNP’s agenda only,” he said.
“In the same category, Prof Muntasir Mamun’s books are pure and reflect on the country’s original history up to 1975, and all those books should be added in the curriculum of every level of all educational institutions” he added.
Shahriar Kabir pointed out that Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech is absent from Muntasir Mamun’s all books and suggested its inclusion in all his books.
Professor Muntasir Mamun, who also spoke at the seminar, said: “I have not added many items including Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech in my books due to chapters and words limitations. However, I will consider this during the second edition of my books.”
He alleged that the country’s history was distorted during different military tenures but mostly during that of BNP founder Major Ziaur Rahman.
Dhaka University’s history professor Mesbah Kamal said:“A few leaders of those who led different sectors in our liberation war, had distorted the original history. AK Khandakar has recently followed the suit in his new book as like as BNP founder Major Zia did after Bangabandhu’s death in 1975.”
He also alleged that the conspirators had divided the country’s original history into two parts- Islamic History and General History, adding: “Islamic history was formed on the basis of Pakistani nationalism.”
Jagannath University’s history professor Mohammad Selim said: “After three decades of movements of Bangladesh Itihas Sammilani, the country’s original history has been added to the National University. It will also be added to the curriculum of every department at public and private university.”