Change in Textbooks: ‘Bongobondhu’ Replaced with ‘Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’

As part of the changes in the national curriculum following the 2024 public uprising, the government is revising the textbooks for the 2026 academic year. A significant alteration in the new curriculum is the removal of the title “Bongobondhu” and the introduction of the full name, “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

From the 2026 academic year, textbooks in primary and secondary schools will refer to the nation’s founding leader as “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman” instead of “Bongobondhu.” The change affects all secondary school textbooks, including the widely studied ‘Bangladesh and World Identity’ subject.

This change follows written directives from the Ministry of Secondary and Higher Education (MOU) to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) after the August 5th uprising. While “Bongobondhu” still appears in certain historical contexts in titles, it has been replaced in the body of texts.

It is notable that the term “Bongobondhu” was first used for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during a 1969 rally, where he was honored with the title after his release in the Agartala Conspiracy Case. Despite the change in textbooks, the historical significance of the title remains in the hearts of many.