Letter of July Uprising Martyr Anas Included in Class Eight Bangla Textbook for 2026

A letter written by Shahriar Khan Anas, a martyr of the July mass uprising, has been incorporated into the Class Eight Bangla “Sahitya Kanika” textbook for the 2026 academic year. A review of the book shows that an image of Anas’s letter has been printed on the back cover, with the caption: “Letter written to mother by July uprising martyr Shahriar Khan Anas.”

According to sources, Anas wrote the letter on August 5 before joining the July uprising protests. He was killed the same day after being shot by police at Chankharpul. A bullet reportedly entered through the left side of his chest and exited through his back. Following his death, the letter went viral on social media, drawing widespread public attention.

In the letter, addressed to his mother, Anas wrote about his decision to join the protest despite family concerns, saying he could not remain at home while others were sacrificing their lives for future generations. He wrote that dying bravely in the struggle was better than living selfishly in fear, and urged his mother to feel pride rather than sorrow if he did not return.

Anas’s mother, Sanjida Khan Dipti, welcomed the inclusion of the letter in the textbook, saying the history of the July mass uprising must be preserved for future generations. She said the letter represents not only her son’s voice, but also the collective plea and sacrifice of all those who were killed or injured during the movement.

Earlier, Md Mahbubul Haque Patwari, chairman (additional charge) of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), said the letter was included to reflect the role of students in the July uprising, following directives from the education adviser. He said the country was freed from fascism through the sacrifices of hundreds of young people like Anas.

In addition to Anas’s letter, the revised textbooks include discussions on major political movements, such as the 1952 Language Movement, the 1969 mass uprising, the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 mass uprising, and the 2024 July mass uprising. These topics have been added to a new chapter titled “Mass Uprisings in Independent Bangladesh” in the Bangladesh and Global Studies books for Classes Six to Nine-Ten.

Meanwhile, the March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been removed from the Class Eight Bangla Sahitya Kanika book as part of the latest curriculum revision.