Renowned economist and former Jahangirnagar University professor, Anu Muhammad, on Wednesday, said that March 7 does not belong to the Awami League, nor is the historic speech of that day a personal matter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In response to the recent cancellation of March 7 as a national day, Prof Anu expressed his views on his personal Facebook account, saying that the day represents the collective consciousness of people from all walks of life, nearly every political group, and organisation in the country.
He wrote: "The power of Mujib's speech was derived from the extraordinary rise of the people. In fact, the Liberation War of 1971 began on this very day. March 7 is undoubtedly a significant part of our history. While Sheikh Mujib is a political figure subject to criticism and analysis but any attempts to erase history will not be tolerated,"
The cancellation of the March 7 has sparked widespread discussions and criticism on social media.
Meanwhile, Information Adviser Nahid Islam stated that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is certainly not the father of the nation.
He said: “We are not erasing March 7 from history. We are not erasing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's significance from history. What the Awami League did will be objectively rewritten in history. The practice of celebrating these days as national events has political dimensions, and the government born of the people’s uprising cannot let that politics continue. This will not remain in the New Bangladesh.”
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud has said that Sheikh Mujib is not the father of the nation, but rather a symbolic medium for establishing Awami fascism.
On Wednesday morning, the government announced the cancellation of eight national observances, including August 15, the death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which is also marked as National Mourning Day.
The canceled observances include:
- March 7, commemorating Bangabandhu's historic speech
- March 17, Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and National Children’s Day
- August 5, the birth anniversary of Captain Sheikh Kamal
- August 8, the birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib
- August 15, the death anniversary of Bangabandhu and National Mourning Day
- October 18, Sheikh Russell Day
- November 4, National Constitution Day
- December 12, Smart Bangladesh Day
