School textbooks to undergo revision, eliminating political bias

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) is set to introduce significant revisions to Bangladesh's primary and secondary textbooks for the upcoming academic year. 

These changes aim to present a more balanced and contemporary viewpoint, removing politically charged stories, essays, and poems introduced during the Awami League government's tenure, while adding new content.  

For example, the chapter “Muktijuddho O Bijoy” (Liberation War and Victory) in the Class 1 Bangla textbook will be renamed “Amader Muktijuddho” (Our Liberation War), and its opening photo of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be replaced with an image from the Liberation War. References to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s 7 March speech and his title as the Father of the Nation will also be removed.  

In the Class 3 “Bangladesh and Biswa Porichoy” (Bangladesh and Global Studies) textbook, the section “Amader Jatir Pita” (Our Father of the Nation) will be changed to “Amader Char Neta” (Our Four Leaders), highlighting the contributions of four national leaders.  

According to NCTB sources, seven essays and poems will be removed across five primary education grades, while eight new pieces will be added. Changes will also be made to secondary textbooks, particularly in Bangla, English, and Bangladesh and Global Studies, with new content such as the July uprising included.  

In primary textbooks, stories like “Pipra O Pairar Golpo” (The Ant and the Pigeon) will be added to the Class 1 Bangla book, and “Singho O Indurer Golpo” (The Lion and the Mouse) will appear in the Class 2 Bangla book. On the other hand, stories like “Sonar Chhele” (Golden Boy), focused on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the biography of Sheikh Russel in the English textbook, will be excluded. 

Changes to the Class 4 Bangladesh and Global Studies book will include the replacement of content about “Bangabandhu” with references to “Maulana Bhasani” in the 1969 Mass Uprising section.  

Class 5 textbooks will now include material on the July uprising. However, other changes remain minimal beyond this addition.  

Prof AKM Riazul Hasan, Chairman of the NCTB, noted that this revision was more comprehensive than usual, with 101 secondary books being updated. He confirmed that exaggerated historical events were removed and that some individuals who were previously overlooked have been acknowledged in the new content.  

Regarding secondary textbooks, delays are expected due to unresolved issues with inspection agents and printing processes. Although primary books are expected to be delivered by the end of this month, the printing of secondary school books remains significantly behind schedule.  

Despite these setbacks, NCTB officials remain optimistic that most books will be delivered by mid-January, with additional time being sought for the printing process to ensure quality.