Why Did Dhaka Abandon Hasina Government's Plan to Document 1971 Liberation War Interviews?
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events, the Dhaka government has decided to discontinue a significant project initiated by the previous Sheikh Hasina administration, which aimed to document the experiences of Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War participants. With concerns about historical accuracy and representation, the move raises questions about the preservation of national memory for future generations.
Key Takeaways
- The project aimed to document the 1971 Liberation War experiences.
- Concerns over historical accuracy led to its cancellation.
- Approximately 15,000 interviews were planned.
- The project was initiated by the previous Awami League government.
- Current officials believe the videos misrepresent history.
New Delhi, Jan 14 (NationPress) A significant project initially launched by the ousted Sheikh Hasina government, aimed at documenting the history of Bangladesh's Liberation War of 1971, will be discontinued, as per reports. This initiative, which had a budget of Rs. 50 crore, intended to capture video interviews from around 15,000 participants of the war.
The current administration in Dhaka has no intentions of preserving these interviews, leading to the decision that the agency involved in the project will go unpaid, according to a report by Bangladesh's leading newspaper, Prothom Alo.
Officials revealed to the publication that the recorded interviews did not accurately represent the “true history” of the Liberation War, citing inconsistencies in the footage.
Concerns arose that the experiences of freedom fighters were not sufficiently conveyed through these recordings, prompting fears that preserving such videos might mislead future generations about the Liberation War, as reported.
This project, launched in 2022 by the Awami League government, aimed to enable war participants to share their narratives with future audiences.
Entitled 'Birer Kante Bir Gatha (Heroes Voice Heroic Tales)', the project was projected to cost Rs. 49.57 crore (Bangladesh) and was to encompass 80,000 documentaries drawn from interviews with freedom fighters, alongside 16 documentaries scheduled for completion by December 2024.
Following a student uprising, the Awami League government was removed from power in August of the same year. The project was finalized in May 2023 when the then Ministry of Liberation War entered into a contract with Management and Training International Limited (MTI).
The agreement stipulated that interviewees would respond to 19 questions, covering aspects such as the sectors in which they fought, their commanding officers, their experiences during the nine months of the war, and any injuries sustained.
According to project officials, the scrapped videos did not meet established criteria. The interim government allegedly instructed the team to halt video production, but the contractor failed to comply, resulting in unpaid bills, project director Afrazur Rahman informed Prothom Alo.
The decision to terminate the project came after a committee tasked with reviewing 14,640 videos advised against their acceptance. Prothom Alo referenced this committee's report, which deemed the recorded footage as substandard.
Moreover, the organization responsible for the project could not authentically portray the history of the Liberation War through the interviews.
“If these videos are archived, they might generate a negative perception of the Liberation War among future generations. Compensating for these videos would amount to a misuse of government funds,” the report stated.
Regarding the future of the discarded interviews, unnamed officials from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs informed Prothom Alo that these videos would not be retained in the film archives as they failed to accurately represent the Liberation War's reality.
MTI's deputy program manager, Ajmal Kabir Rabbi, conveyed to the newspaper that they suspect the decision to scrap the videos was “intentional.” “If our previous 12,788 interviews were of high quality, how can the subsequent 14,640 interviews be subpar? This seems to be a retaliatory move by the current interim government,” he remarked.
Point of View
I emphasize that preserving historical narratives is crucial for shaping our national identity. While the current government's decision to halt this project reflects concerns over historical accuracy, it raises significant questions about how we choose to remember and share our past. Engaging with the stories of freedom fighters is essential, and we must find ways to accurately document these experiences without compromising their integrity.
NationPress
14/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the scrapped project?
The project aimed to document the experiences of participants in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh through video interviews.
Why was the project canceled?
The current administration found the recorded interviews did not accurately represent the history of the Liberation War and had concerns about the quality of the videos.
How many interviews were conducted under this project?
Approximately 15,000 interviews were planned as part of the initiative.
Who was responsible for the project?
The project was initiated by the Awami League government and managed by Management and Training International Limited (MTI).
What might happen to the recorded interviews?
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has stated that the videos will not be preserved as they do not accurately depict the Liberation War.
