AK Khandaker apologises, breaking years of silence on book controversy

AK Khandaker has apologised for giving wrong information in a book published four and a half years ago.

The deputy chief of staff of the Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Liberation War says Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not utter the words “Joy Pakistan” in his historic March 7 speech in 1971.

Accompanied by his wife Farida Khandaker, the first Air Force chief of Bangladesh broke the silence, which he maintained for years despite widespread criticism and protests, at a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday.

“I don’t think that the Liberation War was triggered by this speech by Bangabandhu. The last words of this speech were, ‘Joy Bangla! Joy Pakistan!’” he wrote on page 32 of the first edition of his book “1971: Bhetore Baire” (1971: Inside and Outside) published in 2014.

“This information was false and included in my book. I accept responsibility for this,” Khandaker said on Saturday, reading out a written speech.

“And Bangabandhu did not utter the words ‘Joy Pakistan’ in his March 7 speech. He did not mention the two words in his speech,” Khandaker said on Saturday.

"So, I am withdrawing the entire section containing the mentioned part on page 32 of my book. I apologise to the nation and the departed soul of Bangabandhu."

He also said he hopes publisher Prothoma Prokashon will reprint the book by dropping the withdrawn parts.

In the preface of the book, Khandaker said he was careful enough to write it and had to rise above emotions to publish unpleasant truth.

Amid a storm of criticisms after the publication of the book, Khandaker resigned as the chairman of Sector Commanders’ Forum when the other war veterans differed with him. 

Khandaker was also sued and faced a demand for banning the book in parliament.

Awami League leaders alleged that a certain quarter provoked him to write the book while the opposition BNP said the book proved Awami League leaders’ comments wrong. 

In the press conference, Khandaker started his speech by describing Bangabandhu as “the great architect of independence Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”. He also spoke about the colourful life of Bangabandhu.   

“I am 90 years old. I consider this the biggest mistake in my life. Stung by my conscience, I seek forgiveness from the departed soul of Bangabandhu and the nation in my twilight hours."

Khandaker, who worked as the planning minister in the cabinet of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for five years after the Awami League returned to power in 2008, also expressed gratitude to Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana. 

“Bangladesh is on top of its fame now as the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s eligible daughter honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh is known to the world as a middle-income country now. Bangladesh is free from war criminals because of her intelligent leadership,” Khandaker said, praising Hasina.

“I’m near the end of my life as a freedom fighter and I am grateful to Bangabandhu’s daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana."
 

From The Opinion Pages: What did Sheikh Mujib say on March 7?

Khandaker had worked as an ambassador during BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s military rule and became the planning minister of HM Ershad’s military government.

He joined Hasina’s cabinet after winning the 2008 parliamentary election with the Awami League’s ticket.

‘PROTHOMA, ZAFRULLAH BARRED CORRECTION’

Khandaker’s wife Farida alleged that Prothoma that published the book did not correct the information even though the writer wanted to do so immediately after the publication.

When Khandaker finished reading out the statement, a journalist asked why he came up with the apology and sought corrections after so many years.

Khandaker said he could not hear what the journalists were saying.

Farida then said, “I had tried before, but could not as I did not have contacts with journalists.”

She also said she and her husband did not want to name anyone because “the couple knew it will be unbearable”.

Her husband fell mentally ill due to the inability to correct the book, Farida said.

“He took treatment from the CMH as he was suffering from his compete insanity. His treatment is still ongoing.”

As the journalists pushed her for the names, she first talked to Khandaker and then said she could remember only Moidul Hasan and Zafrullah Chowdhury among several people.   

“They guarded for several days to ensure that the book is not corrected,” she alleged

Pro-BNP public health activist Chowdhury could not be reached for comment despite several attempts. 

Recalling the events after the publication of the book, Farida said: “He (Khandaker) I had thought about the correction the day after publishing the book, but they did not let us do it. They said it would be meaningless to chase a bullet once fired.”         

“Then I tried to contact Prothoma Prokashon Publisher Matiur Rahman by phone, but could not. When I finally got him, I asked him ‘how such a big mistake was made?’ He then said ‘I don’t look after these. We have different people to check spellings and grammar. I couldn’t get him since then and hence could not make the correction,” she said.

Contacted for comment, Prothoma Manager Zafar Ahmed Rashed told bdnews24.com: “I don’t know anything beyond what was said in AK Khandaker’s written statement. So I can’t comment on that.”

He claimed Khandaker made corrections in the second edition published immediately after the first.