Restoration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's honour hinges on an apology from his party and family members for the mass killings, enforced disappearances, corruption, famine, and the 1972 constitution, which paved the way for Bakshal, according to Adviser Mahfuj Alam.
In a Facebook post on 12 November, Mahfuj Alam commented that Sheikh Mujib and his daughter, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, have faced the people's wrath during their respective fascist regimes.
"The only difference is that, unlike Hasina, Sheikh Mujib was once a popular demagogue of eastern Bengal. The masses followed him against Pakistani tyranny, but he became a tyrant himself after 1971. Due to his support and patronage of Mujibism, Bangladesh was left crippled and divided after 1971. For his fascist role, people did not lament his death in 1975," reads the post.
"Sheikh Mujib will enjoy honour for his pre-1971 roles if his party and family members apologise to the people of Bangladesh for the post-1971 mass killings, enforced disappearances, corruption, famine, and, of course, the 1972 constitution, which paved the way for Bakshal," the post continued.
Magfuj Alam further asserted that the Awami League and Sheikh Mujib's family must also recognise, apologise, and face trials for Sheikh Hasina's fascist regime.
"They should also abandon the politics of Mujibism and the idolisation of the Sheikh family," he added.
Addressing the removal of Sheikh Mujib's portrait from Bangabhaban, Mahfuj Alam stated, "The photo was removed due to his daughter's fascist rule carried out in the name and spirit of her post-1971 fascist father. Her father was deified, but the people of Bangladesh brought down both of their pictures, murals, and sculptures altogether after the July uprising."
He added, "It is important to remember that history cannot be erased. Our task is to reconcile historical anomalies and misattributions. The Liberation War of 1971 belongs to the masses of Bangladesh. Any liberation warrior who engaged in wrongdoing post-1971 should be tried and punished. Their role in the liberation war does not grant them exemption."
Concluding his remarks, Alam expressed hope that Bangladesh would rise above the deification and feuding among ruling families.
"The spirit of the July uprising, along with those of 1947 and 1971, should remain alive in our collective memory," he added.
