The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) arbitrarily changes the textbooks at primary and secondary levels facing communal pressures
Executive Director of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman made the remarks at a press conference at TIB head office in the capital on Monday.
"The authorities concerned were compelled to bring changes in textbooks and included such words, which go against the spirit of the Bangladesh's independent," he said.
If the anti-liberation issues make their way into textbooks and get institutionalised, he said, the new generation will turn out to be 'communal', which is a matter of concern.
The press conference was arrange to reveal the findings of a study conducted by TIB.
TIB deputy programme manager Morsheda Akter presented findings of the study, titled 'National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB): Challenges of Good Governance and a Way-out in its Manuscript Formulation and Publication Management'.
The study finds that 16 write-ups from five textbooks at primary and secondary levels have been excluded while 11 poems were removed based on the demand of a specific communal group.
"Even the name of the NCTB chairman, as he belongs Hinduism, was removed from the textbooks of madrasah," the study reveals.
The names, which were meant to be Hindu, Christian and foreign ones, were removed from English textbooks of madrasah replacing Islamic words, the TIB study says.
The anti-graft watchdog termed the process of NCTB's textbook formulation as unclear.
"Its manuscripts are not written properly while political and ideological influence of a specific group are present (in the contents of textbooks)," the study reveals.
According to UNB, the study also finds irregularities and corruption in the formulation of textbooks, including writing manuscript, publication and distribution.
The TIB recommended establishing the NCTB as an independent commission to formulate policies regarding textbook formulation and publication.
TIB adviser (Executive Management) Dr Sumaiya Khair was, among others, present at the press conference.
