Awami League calls him the ‘Father of the Nation’ but we will not continue that, says Nahid Islam

Nahid Islam, the information and broadcasting advisor, says the interim government does not consider Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the ‘Father of the Nation’.

He made the statement at the Secretariat in response to a question from the media on Wednesday.

Asked why the interim government had decided to withdraw the national days marking Aug 15 – the day of Bangabandhu’s assassination – and Mar 7 – the day of his historic speech – in a Facebook post earlier in the day, Nahid said:

“The Awami League was in power as a fascist party,” he said. “They remained in power by disenfranchising people, forcibly disappearing them, and through a massacre. As such, whoever they call the Father of the Nation, the national days they declare, that will not continue in a new Bangladesh. We want to build a new Bangladesh. As such, we have to bring a new perspective to history.”

“You consider everything done by the Awami League as national… a government that was not voted in has no legitimacy. They did many things during that time. All of it will be restructured and reassessed.”

Asked whether he considered Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation, Nahid said: “Absolutely not.”

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 50^th 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.

Government advisors say they have decided to reform the state first and then hold elections, according to the expectations of the students who led the uprising. .

Six commissions have already been constituted for reforms, of which one commission is working on constitutional reform. Chief Advisor Yunus is also holding a dialogue with the political parties to get their opinions on the matter.