Senior treasury and opposition bench lawmakers yesterday asked the government to ban the recently published book of AK Khandaker for distorting facts while describing the history of 1971 Liberation War and the role of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
While taking part in an unscheduled discussion in parliament, the MPs also demanded that a sedition charge be brought against him.
Air Vice Marshal (retd) Khandaker was the deputy chief of army during the war. He served as the planning minister during the Awami League’s previous tenure. But he did not seek nomination in the January 5 election.
Through his book “1971: Ins and Outs,” the lawmakers alleged that weapons were handed over to others by writing controversial words on Bangabandhu and the war.
The book, published by Prothoma and launched Tuesday, says Bangabandhu at the end of his historic March 7, 1971 speech had uttered “Joy Pakistan” after “Joy Bangla.”
It also criticises the role of Awami League leadership during the Liberation War saying that the political leadership had failed to play its due role. The book says it was true that the political leadership succeeded in the end, but the country had to pay high price because of their clashes and lack of visionary thoughts.
Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, who was in the chair, in his observation said the book might hurt the sentiment of the people. “I was surprised. Though he has written some partial truth, he also made some distortions,” he said adding that such distortion was not acceptable.
“Bangabandhu is the Father of the Nation. Bangabandhu means Bangladesh and Bangladesh means Bangabandhu,” he said.
Ruling party lawmaker and former minister Abul Kalam Azad initiated the discussion. Senior Awami League MPs Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Maj Gen (rted) Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam; Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Feroz Rashid; and JaSoD lawmaker Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal took part in the discussion.
Taking the floor, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said: “We should speak carefully about Bangabandhu because he is the best Bangalee of thousand years.”
On “Joy Pakistan,” Tofail said he felt shame uttering the words written by Khandaker, who was made a minister by the daughter of Bangabandhu.
“I was present on the stage (on March 7). I did not hear such a slogan from Bangabandhu,” he told the House.
Quoting from the book, Tofail said Khandaker had not been aware of the incidents of mass upsurge in then East Pakistan since he was in West Pakistan from 1951 to 1969.
Tofail also criticised Khandaker for writing that there was no political preparation for the War of Independence. “Bangabandhu knew every piece of information. Even, he knew what was happening in the cantonment at that time,” he said.
Industries Minister Amu said Bangabandhu had been mentally prepared for the country’s independence since 1947. “The unarmed nation did not take arms overnight,” he said.
Sheikh Selim asked the writer to come up with a proof of his claims. He wanted to know why the former minister had written the book.
“Khandaker joined the Liberation War upon suggestions of Pakistan. He has been praising Ayub Khan undermining Bangabandhu and the constitution,” Selim said.
He also suspected that Khandaker might have written the book with the money of the ISI (the intelligence agency of Pakistan).
He demanded that the government bring a sedition charge against the writer and ban his book.
Former home minister Rafiqul told the House that Khandaker might have distorted the history being instigated by vested quarters.
“Why did he make such statement all of a sudden? What is the source of his information?”
The whole nation would refuse the book for undermining Bangabandhu, he said. “We fought in 1971 under political leadership, under the leadership of Bangabandhu,” Rafiqul said.
Former information minister Abul Kalam Azad called for hating those who would like to distort the history.
“Information provided by AK Khandaker has hurt the nation,” he said adding that a section of people was still hatching conspiracies.
Condemning Khandaker, JaPa lawmaker Kazi Feroz Rashid said Khandaker was trying to mislead the nation by writing false history.
Mayeen Uddin considered the book as an offence. “This is no way acceptable,” he said asking all not to undermine the constitution.
However, most of the parliament members have reportedly not read the book.
