On the 50th anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam sparked fresh debate over the late leader’s place in Bangladesh’s history, rejecting the state-sanctioned title of “Father of the Nation” and denouncing what he called “Mujibism” as a form of fascism.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, Nahid Islam acknowledged Mujibur Rahman’s “role and sacrifices in winning independence” but argued that his rule brought “national tragedy” through political repression, concentration of power, and alignment with foreign interests. He accused Mujib’s government of reducing Bangladesh to a “tributary state of India,” imposing the “anti-people Constitution of 1972,” and laying the groundwork for “looting, political killings, and the one-party BAKSAL dictatorship.”
Nahid described Mujib worship and Liberation War glorification as “political idolatry” that allowed the Awami League to entrench decades of unaccountable rule, corruption, and oppression. “The ‘Father of the Nation’ title is not history, it is a fascist tool manufactured by the Awami League to silence dissent and monopolize the state,” he wrote.
Referring to the July 2024 uprising that toppled the Awami League government, Nahid said the movement “shattered this landlordism” and marked a turning point toward a people-owned republic. He called for political, ideological, and cultural resistance against what he termed “Mujibism” — an ideology he linked to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, communal land grabs, corruption, and the erosion of sovereignty.
“Our struggle is to build a sovereign, democratic Bangladesh of equal citizens, where no party, no dynasty, and no leader stands above the people,” he stated. “Bangladesh is not anyone’s property, it is the people’s Republic.”
This latest statement is consistent with Nahid Islam’s long-standing criticism of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the political legacy of the Awami League, but its timing — on a national day of mourning — is likely to intensify public debate over Mujib’s contested legacy in post-uprising Bangladesh.
