The story of the July uprising and Abu Saeed is being added to textbooks, while the image and quote of the deposed government’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the back cover are being removed. A chapter on the student and public uprising of July-August is being included in the textbooks.
Additionally, a new story about Abu Saeed, who was killed by police gunfire, is under consideration for inclusion. Images and graffiti from the July Revolution will also be featured.
Significant changes are also being made to other history-related content. After these revisions, the new books will be handed over to students.
It has been reported that the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) is updating textbooks based on the 2012 curriculum. Following this, new books will be provided to students. The authorities have held multiple meetings and reached a consensus on adding a chapter on the July uprising in several books.
NCTB Chairman Professor A. K. M. Riazul Hasan mentioned that the image of Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of the deposed Awami League government, is being removed from the textbooks. Adding a chapter on the July uprising is also under discussion, with unanimous agreement on this inclusion, though it has yet to be finalized.
It has been learned that after taking office, the interim government’s Ministry of Education distanced itself from the new curriculum or the National Curriculum Framework-2021. The revised curriculum will be finalized in 2025 and implemented from 2026. Meanwhile, in 2025, students will receive revised textbooks based on the 2012 curriculum.
Every year, the NCTB prints 230 million copies of textbooks for 18.9 million secondary-level students in schools, madrasas, and technical institutions. According to their work plan, the manuscripts were to be proofread by May-June.
However, this year, the announcement to revise the books came in September, raising concerns about whether the new books will reach students at the start of the next academic year. NCTB officials are optimistic that students will receive the books by January.
