Protest leads to removal of ‘indigenous’ term from textbooks

In response to protests by a group of Dhaka University students, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has decided to remove graffiti featuring the term 'indigenous' from the ninth and tenth grade textbooks. 

According to NCTB sources, the term 'indigenous' has already been removed from the online version of the books on their website, and a new graffiti has been added in its place.

Sources revealed that the graffiti, which included the term 'indigenous,' appeared on the back cover of the Bengali Grammar and Composition books for ninth and tenth grades. The 'Students for Sovereignty,' a student organization from Dhaka University, initiated a movement calling for its removal. On Sunday, the students protested outside the NCTB office in Motijheel, Dhaka, demanding the removal of the term and other changes. After NCTB officials assured them that their demands would be addressed, the students ended their protest.

Mohammad Yakub Majumder, joint convener of 'Students for Sovereignty,' stated, "After the NCTB office was surrounded, Rabiul Kabir Chowdhury, the member responsible for the curriculum, assured us that the term would be removed today (Sunday). We appreciate their decision to make the correction. However, we now demand an investigation into how this term was included and that those responsible be held accountable."

When contacted, Rabiul Kabir Chowdhury confirmed to Jago News that the term 'indigenous' has been removed from the graffiti as per the students' demands. "The new graffiti will appear in printed books, and we have already updated the online version. Additionally, we will investigate how this graffiti was initially included," he said.

Which graffiti was removed and which was added

On the back cover of the Bengali Grammar and Composition book, there was a graffiti featuring a tree with five leaves, each labeled with the names of different religions, including the term 'indigenous.' The labels, from left to right, read: Indigenous, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and Christian. The phrase "Do not pluck the leaves" was written in large letters beside the tree. This graffiti has now been removed. 

The new graffiti added features a line from Kazi Nazrul Islam's famous poem: "Bolo Bir Chiro Unnoto Momo Shir". This updated version will also be included in the textbooks for ninth and tenth grades that have not yet been published.