City Desk :
The interim government does not recognize Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation, said Nahid Islam, Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, on Wednesday.
“Awami League made Bangabandhu controversial. As a party, AL was in power through fascist tactics-snatching people’s voting rights, abductions, murders, and even genocide.
So, who called him the Father of the Nation, and which day they declared as National Day, none of that will continue in the new Bangladesh.
We want to rebuild Bangladesh,” he said. When directly asked whether the interim government acknowledges Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation, Nahid responded, “Of course not.” He emphasized that many figures contributed to the nation’s history: “Our history didn’t begin in 1952. We have anti-British struggles, 1947, 1971, 1990, and now 2024.
We have many founding fathers, and our freedom came through their collective struggles.”
The adviser also noted that the national days being canceled were “imposed” by the Awami League, describing this as “fascist behavior.”
He added, “The government finds these days unimportant, so they are being canceled.”
Earlier in the day, the interim government officially announced the cancellation of eight national days, including March 7, which commemorates Bangabandhu’s historic speech, and August 15, marking his assassination.
Questioned whether Bangladesh will have a Father of the Nation, the advisor said: “Many people have contributed to the history of our struggle in this land. Our history did not begin in 1952. We fought in the anti-British struggle in the ’47 and ’71 struggle, in ’90 and ’24 too. We have many founding fathers too. Because of their struggle we have our independence.”
The interim government announced the scrapping of eight national days with ties to the Awami League on Wednesday. These included Aug 15, Mar 7, and the birthdays of Bangabandhu’s sons as well as that of his wife. In 2011, the Awami League made the 50th amendment to the Constitution, declaring Bangabandhu the ‘Father of the Nation’ and taking steps to preserve and display his portrait.
His famous speech at the Ramna Race Course on Mar 7, 1971 and the Mujibnagar government’s declaration of independence was also added to the Constitution.
Fifteen years of Awami League rule came to an end when Sheikh Hasina resigned as premier and fled the country on Aug 5. An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus then took the reins on Aug 8.