The dangers of rewriting the past in Bangladesh – Firstpost

Bangladesh’s recent political trajectory is very complex and troubling. The country that once battled heroically for its freedom, making enormous sacrifices, is now at a crossroads where its history is being rewritten, its national heroes disrespected, and its relationship with its greatest ally, India, disregarded.

The ongoing political turmoil and the systematic erasure of its own national identity pose grave risks to its own future, threatening its social cohesion, political stability, and international credibility. At this critical juncture in history, it is pertinent to remember the turn of events in March 1971 that prompted an entire nation to rise in revolt against an oppressive state, which soon snowballed into an epic struggle for independence, resulting in the formation of Bangladesh barely nine months later. Attempts to distort this history now threaten the nation’s very foundations.

Operation Searchlight

On 25th March 1971, the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight, a ruthless campaign to crush all opposition and suppress the Bengali nationalist movement following the Awami League’s victory in the 1970 elections, which West Pakistan’s leadership refused to honour. This operation mostly targeted Bengali intellectuals, students, activists, and Awami League sympathisers in an attempt to crush their nationalistic sentiment.

The Pakistani forces threw all restraint to the winds and unleashed a reign of terror, causing widespread atrocities. Notably, students, teachers, and intellectuals at Dhaka University were targeted in a well-thought-out strategy. The ensuing conflict led to a massive exodus of people, with approximately 10 million Bengalis seeking refuge in India. There are various sources that indicate that over 3 million people were killed in these operations.

Even Pakistan’s own fact-finding Hamoodur Rahman Commission acknowledged that at least 26,000 people were killed—a figure that many believe severely underestimates the true scale of the atrocities. India’s support during this time was critical, offering shelter and supplies to those displaced and playing an important role in Bangladesh’s eventual liberation from Pakistan.

Erasing India’s Role: A Betrayal of History

Moreover, it is equally disturbing to see how the current ruling dispensation, headed by Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh, is trying to strategically sideline and undermine India’s pivotal role in its freedom struggle, with its sacrifices being forgotten. During the 1971 conflict, India not only offered military backing to the Mukti Bahini and lost many of its soldiers, but it also opened its doors to approximately ten million refugees fleeing genocide.

The Indian government made extensive financial, logistical, and humanitarian efforts to accommodate these displaced people, despite facing severe economic challenges itself. The burden of caring for the refugees significantly impacted India’s own domestic economy, leading to a reappraisal of the Fourth Five-Year Plan and an increase in taxes on the local population to share the financial burden.

While the majority of refugees returned to Bangladesh after the war, it is estimated that between 1 to 1.5 million individuals still remain in India today. Moreover, this enduring refugee population has contributed to demographic pressures in many parts of India, particularly in its northeastern states, leading to resource constraints, social tensions, and security challenges.

The repatriation of refugees was one of the largest operations in post-World War II history. The Indian government, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international organisations, supported the return of over 9 million refugees by February 1972.

Moreover, India also provided financial assistance to Bangladesh to help in the rehabilitation of those who returned. However, despite these extraordinary contributions, many in Bangladesh today dismiss India’s role, reducing it to that of a “mere ally” rather than acknowledging it as an indispensable force behind their country’s liberation. This revisionist approach distorts historical realities and facts and risks jeopardising the long-standing deep ties between the two countries.

The Dangers of Historical Revisionism

A nation cannot progress if it disrespects its freedom fighters and national heroes. During the recent political unrest in Bangladesh in 2024, statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh (the Bangabandhu), were desecrated and destroyed, an act that symbolised a blatant attempt to erase his legacy.

Many of his statues were urinated on first and then dismantled. His historic Dhanmondi residence was set on fire, while even the Mujibnagar Memorial, which marks the Proclamation of Independence on 11 April 1971, was vandalised. The violence was widespread—the systematic destruction targeted both cultural and political symbols of Bengali nationalism, sending a larger message. The destruction of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and the defacement of his statues are alarming indicators of attempts to erase or rewrite significant aspects of Bangladesh’s past.

The arts and cultural institutions also bore the brunt of this devastation. Cultural centres like Shilpakala Academy were vandalised, and renowned artists, including young film star Shanto Khan and his father, were brutally killed. Moreover, today, efforts are underway to rewrite and alter literature and school textbooks. Furthermore, one of the most alarming aspects of this historical revisionism is also to strategically diminish the recognition of ‘Operation Searchlight’, whose anniversary is today.

All of these actions not only disrespect the legacy and contribution of the country’s founding figures but also jeopardise the very foundations on which Bangladesh was built. If Bangladesh continues to whitewash its past, it risks losing its national identity and the ideals that gave it independence.

The current political turmoil in Bangladesh reflects this instability. The ongoing power struggle among various groups involving students, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI), the army, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters, Awami League, Mohammad Yunus, and various other factions has created deep fractures within its society. While political elites continue to compete for power, ordinary citizens feel increasingly isolated and helpless.

The Case for Incrementalism

Furthermore, the interim government appears to be making rash, emotional decisions rather than pragmatic ones. Plans to drastically alter the constitution and introduce fundamental changes in society reflect a reckless disregard for the delicate balance on which a society rests.

Every society is the consequence of long-evolving conventions, traditions and practices that reflect collective national wisdom. When someone tries to alter everything at once, the entire social order risks collapsing. True progress is gained by incremental change rather than dramatic upheavals, a tenet firmly ingrained in conservative political thinking.

Furthermore, in revolutionary settings in which changes are introduced wholesale, it becomes extremely difficult to control and remediate any adverse implications that may develop. Furthermore, because of the rapid and violent character of the changes, the society that emerges from such a revolution is intrinsically flawed, riddled with new fault lines and perpetually teetering on the brink of further conflict and civil war. In contrast, incremental change makes it easier for society to react and deal with unexpected consequences.

If a given reform does not operate as intended, it can be amended or repealed without causing widespread disruption to the society. This flexibility is absent in the aftermath of a revolution, where the sweeping changes made are often irreversible, leading to further marginalisation (of the most vulnerable), alienation of many, and prolonged instability. In such a scenario, despite the revolutionary harbinger class claiming lofty ideals, common people ultimately find that nothing has truly changed—only the ruling class has been replaced by a new one.

Furthermore, the political leadership in Bangladesh must recognise that revenge politics only reinforces cycles of retribution. Today, the current ruling elites are dismantling their national identity and the legacy of the Awami League. Tomorrow, the Awami League may return and seek to dismantle what has been built now. This sets a very bad precedent for its future. This cycle of destruction and retribution will only deepen the country’s fractures. Reconciliation, stability, and incremental reform are the only ways to ensure progress and growth.

Alienating New Delhi Does Not Help

A pragmatic leadership in Dhaka would have prioritised maintaining strong ties with New Delhi, given that both countries share a long border, are deeply economically integrated, and have various other linkages. Moreover, given India’s geopolitical standing, its role as a developmental partner and security provider in this region remains vital.

Instead, Bangladesh’s current leadership, headed by Yunus, is engaging in confrontational foreign policy. In international politics, sentimentalism has no place—rational decision-making based on geostrategic calculations is what determines a nation’s success.

By alienating New Delhi and attempting to rewrite history, Bangladesh’s authorities are setting the stage for long-term, potentially adverse geopolitical consequences. A nation that disrespects its allies and sacrifices historical truth for political expediency risks isolation and instability.

Conclusion

Bangladesh’s current trajectory is very alarming. A nation founded on the ideals of liberation, democracy, and constitutionalism is currently experiencing historical amnesia and political strife. Erasing history does not erase its consequences. The sacrifices made by freedom fighters, intellectuals, and friends like India cannot simply be rewritten or forgotten.

If Bangladesh continues to trudge down this path, it risks eroding its national identity, losing its most crucial allies, and undermining its future. History will not be kind to those who disrespect their national heroes and manipulate facts for short-term political gains. The country must embrace pragmatism, gradual reform, and reconciliation with historical truth to ensure a stable and prosperous future. Only by acknowledging, reconciling, and learning from its past will Bangladesh be able to establish itself as a united nation.

Imran Khurshid is a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.