The interim Bangladesh government has finally decided to remove the image of the country’s founding president Sheikh mujibur Rehman from its currency notes. Though symbolic its a major shift in the country’s political landscape. While nations do reinvent their story of genesis, such major departures should be initiated by an elected government and not an interim administration headed by an apolitical advisor. Sheik mujibur Rehman also called bangabandhu is the central figure of the 1971 liberation war. The new notes would be carrying images of heritage sites of diverse faiths and the liberation war memorial. This is paradoxical as the legacy of the liberation war is irrevocably entwined with both the sheikh and India. The interim government’s step seems to be merely political vindictiveness, to spite the former prime minister sheikh hasina wajed.The explanation offered that no human imagery would be there on the notes, is also against the ethos of its secularist constitution. The mandate of the regime is only to enable the conduct of free and fair elections as soon as possible. The recent differences with the military is also reflective of the government procrastinating on the mandate. Such steps would only increase the doubts that Mr yunus does not want to relinquish power and that elections would be indefinitely delayed.
Undemocratic and unconstitutional
