Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has criticised the Dr Yunus-led current interim government for dissolving the textbook revision committee which was formed to amend and revise textbooks under the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
In a press statement issued on Monday, the TIB expressed deep concern over the interim government’s compromise on policy decisions and said the incumbent has set a worrisome and risky precedent by bowing to self-interested radical threats.
TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman in the press statement said that the decision to cancel the coordination committee to revise all textbooks contradicts the vision of a non-discriminatory ‘New Bangladesh’ and its non-communal spirit. “We are alarmed by efforts to spread malice, hatred, and hostility against non-communal spirit and pluralism, which are gaining momentum,” he added.
This is indicative of the interim government’s compromising stance, says the TIB statement. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said in response to the multi-dimensional and unprecedented human rights violations by the authoritarian government, and the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs, the students and mass people have paved the way for the creation of a ‘New Bangladesh’—a nation committed to the peaceful coexistence and equal rights of all, regardless of religious, social, or cultural diversity.
This ‘New Bangladesh’ will be non-discriminatory, non-sectarian, transparent, accountable and well-governed where no religious or ideological doctrine will be imposed on anyone, he said adding, “We are alarmed by efforts to spread malice, hatred, and hostility against non-communal spirit and pluralism, which are gaining momentum.”
He further said, “The interim government is compromising by succumbing to the propaganda and threats posed by self-interested factions. A troubling example of this is the cancellation of the coordination committee to revise textbooks, which not only represents a concession to fundamentalism and communalism but also betrays the very aspirations of ‘New Bangladesh’ for a non-discriminatory, non-communal, and democratic future.”
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman also said, “No matter how overpowering the oppressive and communal forces that have emerged from the ruins of authoritarianism are, and no matter how hard they try to impose their discriminatory ideology on society, we firmly believe that the mainstream of the anti-discrimination movement will not allow such forces to thrive. The strength of the interim government lies in the core values of the anti-discrimination movement—pluralism, inclusiveness, equality, and non-communalism.”
The TIB expressed hope that the government will continue to uphold its responsibility to reform the state and steadfastly avoid compromising with all forms of malign forces, especially communal and fundamentalist factions.
Meanwhile, some students of Dhaka University protested the cancellation of the textbook revision committee and labeling Professor Samina Luthfa of Sociology Department of the university as ‘anti-Islam’.
A protest rally organised by general students took place at the foot of the Raju Sculpture at the university.
Referring to significant contributions Professor Samina Luthfa to the student movement, the students from the rally argued that such baseless labeling hinders efforts to create a non-discriminatory and just Bangladesh.
The NCTB is responsible for the development of curriculums, production and distribution of textbooks at primary and secondary education in the country.
Earlier in June this year, the NCTB removed a story titled ‘Sharifa’s Tale’ from the 7th grade history and social science book amid criticisms from Islamist groups.
In February 2023, it dropped two textbooks ‘History and Social Science: An Inquiry-based Reader’ for 6th and 7th graders, giving in to the pressure from different Islamist groups that said the textbooks were promoting the ‘debatable’ Darwin’s theory of evolution and demeaning the Islamic attire for women.
