A book called “Paharer Laal Akkhyan” was unveiled on Sunday at the RC Majumdar Arts Auditorium of Dhaka University on Sunday to commemorate the Bangladeshi revolutionary politician Siraj Sikder.
The book launch was accompanied by a panel discussion.
“Many revolutionaries have the history of revolution in their minds. If we can not preserve it in writing, this history will be forgotten,” said Sudatta Bikash Tanchangya, the author of the book.
Sudatta continued: “This book contains a portion of history. It was impossible to compile the whole history of Siraj Sikder and the revolution in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
“I will try to continue answering questions raised on the book in future editions.”
Prof Anu Muhammad said: “The history of Bangladesh has many missing points. When it does not come forward, it becomes distorted.”
“With the publication of this book, we can learn many unknown facts about the history of the Chittagong Hill Tracts,” he added.
Prof Anu remarked that although the government has changed, life in the CHT remains the same.
He said: “Siraj tagged the Pakistani rule as colonial. He understood the inevitability of liberation.”
Anu mentioned that Siraj identified early that Pakistan was the main enemy, while other leftist parties were confused.
Nurul Kabir, the editor of New Age, said: “Siraj was the first leftist who realized change for Bangladeshi people is not possible in Pakistan’s structure.”
He remarked that Siraj was the first person to note the need for armed revolution.
“Siraj ensured women’s training and participation in war schematically.
“No ruler understood that the problem in the hill tracts is not a military problem, but the Sarbahara Party (Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party) understood it clearly,” said Nurul.
Meanwhile, Author Altaf Parvez said: “The history of Bangladesh has a lot of myths. Politics has been going on using those myths for the last 50 years. This book is an answer to it.”
Altaf said the book portrays a different image of the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party, which contrasts with the image which is being portrayed by the media.
“Siraj and his party had a solution for the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This is relevant for all the countries in South Asia.”
Badol Shah Alam, editor of Khonon, said: “His revolutionary work is important, not his birth or date anniversary.”
“Now the new generation is searching Siraj Shikdar. However, they only know about his heroism. But we need to know his politics. If not, there will be a gap. Then Siraj will likely be placed like Che on t-shirts.”