It is an ominous sign of the future if Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has found no place in a compilation brought out by Bangladesh Bank. As a report in this newspaper yesterday pointed out, the compilation is clearly meant to celebrate the history of Bangladesh Bank all the way from its status as the State Bank of Pakistan in pre-liberation days to the position it enjoys at present.
While it is understandable that due credit will be given to those who, prior to 1971, were instrumental in the setting-up and working of the bank, it is mystifying why the pictures of Ayub Khan and the notorious Monem Khan have found places of prominence in the book. It would appear, judging by the way the compilation has been prepared, that we are yet part of Pakistan.
There are clear reasons to think that a vast conspiracy is at work to undermine the sovereign nature of Bangladesh. Over the last few years we have observed such nefarious attempts being made through publications to raise questions about the history of the country.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, apart from leading the country to independence, played the leading role in a reshaping and reconfiguring of the institution we know today as Bangladesh Bank.
Who decided to ignore him by not having his image included in the book is a question which calls for some serious answers from those now in authority at Bangladesh Bank. We understand that a small photograph of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has somehow found place in the work. Our question is simple: Why did the picture of the nation's leader have to be of such minuscule dimensions?
The compilation is much more than shoddy work. It is a brazen attempt to undermine our national history. Indeed, if men like Ayub and Monem, with all the infamy attached to them, are glorified at such important institutions as Bangladesh Bank, it is clear that dark forces are at work. One wonders whether the present authorities at the bank, especially the governor, were aware of the conspiracy that was at work.
Did the senior officers of Bangladesh Bank examine the manuscript of the compilation before it went to press? If they did not --- and it seems they did not --- why did they not carry out this important responsibility?
It is not enough for one to write the preface for an intended publication. The convention is for a writer to examine the contents of the manuscript before agreeing to write a preface or foreword.
The issue calls for serious investigation. Occurring at a time when the nation prepares for fresh general elections, it is a hint of the dark forces which lie in wait to pounce upon not only secular democratic politics but also on the history of the country. The authorities should hold everyone at Bangladesh Bank, from the governor to all other officers, to account.
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