Form committee to include proclamation of independence in textbooks: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the education secretary to constitute an expert committee to examine how to include the declaration and proclamation of independence in textbooks and to submit a report to it in 90 days.

The HC also issued a rule asking authorities concerned of the government to explain why they should not be directed to include them in both Bangla and English textbooks at all levels of education.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the order and rule following a petition seeking necessary directives.

Supreme Court lawyer Uttam Kumar Lahery submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC on December 2 through his lawyers Nahid Sultana Juthi and ABM Shahjahan Akondo Masum.

Citing the petition, Lahery told The Daily Star that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 at the onset of the Liberation War.

The Mujibnagar government, formed to conduct the War of Liberation, adopted the proclamation of independence on April 10, 1971, at Baidyanathtala of Meherpur, through which the March 26, 1971 declaration of independence was approved.

The cabinet of the government-in-exile took oath on April 17, 1971 at Baidyanathtala where Prof M Yusuf Ali, an MLA, formally read out the proclamation, he said.