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Dhaka University Teachers' Association has called for an investigation and action against Professor Imtiaz Ahmed, a retired professor of the Department of International Relations and Director of the Center for Genocide Studies at Dhaka University, on charges of distorting history. The president of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association, Professor Dr. Md. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, and the General Secretary, Professor Dr. Jinat Huda, have made these allegations in a joint statement.
According to the statement, in his book "Historicizing 1971 Genocide: State Versus Person" Imtiaz Ahmed, a retired professor of the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University and director of the Genocide Studies Center, claimed that after his speech on March 7, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said, "Joy Bangla" along with "Joy Pakistan" (page 80). Additionally, in the same book, he misrepresented the number of martyrs in the great liberation war and made baseless arguments (Page15-16).
He has also held Bangabandhu and his government responsible for the genocide of 1971 in various ways (Page12-13) and claimed that at the time of the trial for the genocide of 1971, the Biharis should have been put on trial for the killings of Bengalis (Page81-82). The Teachers' Association strongly condemns this distorted history and rejects the book with disgust.
According to the teachers' association, the aforementioned issues have already been addressed nationally and academically. There is no room for unnecessary debate on these matters. In a statement, it was further explained that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech on March 7, in which he ended with the phrase "Joy Bangla", was recognized by UNESCO as evidence of world heritage. It has also been revealed that Professor Imtiaz Ahmed, director of the Center for Genocide Studies, used the slogan "Joy Pakistan" in a way that distorts history, making a futile attempt to challenge Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, which is recognized internationally as part of "Joy Bangla".
"It is further stated that, by raising questions on the issues determined above, the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was criticized and attempts were made to tarnish the history of the great Liberation War. Professor Imtiaz has also been involved in the same attempt by using the defeated power of 1971 as a scapegoat in his book."The Dhaka University Teachers' Association is demanding the immediate removal of the Director of the Genocide Studies Center and the formation of an investigation committee by the university administration, with the coordination of expert teachers, to investigate distortion of the history of the Liberation War and the history of Bangladesh in his book. At the same time, the Teachers' Association is also urging the government to take legal action against Professor Imtiaz Ahmed's book."
TDM/MI
