Plan to Destroy Liberation Archives Condemned

Dhaka, 15 January 2026 – The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) has strongly condemned the alleged plan by the interim government to destroy historical records of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, describing it as a deliberate attempt to erase the nation’s heroic past.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, JSD’s office secretary Sazzad Hossain warned that the government is reportedly targeting 15,000 video interviews and documentary records of freedom fighters, an act that could permanently obliterate vital evidence of the country’s struggle for independence.

“These records capture the bravery, leadership, and sacrifices of the nation’s freedom fighters,” the statement said. “The interim government’s attempt to destroy them represents a blatant effort to distort the history of the Liberation War. It sends a dangerous signal to the nation and undermines the spirit of independence.”

According to JSD, the targeted materials include extensive video interviews documenting the experiences of freedom fighters during the 1971 war. Each account highlights personal courage, battlefield leadership, and the collective struggle for the country’s liberation. Destruction of these records, JSD emphasized, would result in the irretrievable loss of an invaluable historical archive.

JSD called upon the people of Bangladesh to unite against this campaign, urging citizens, civil society, and political parties to actively safeguard the historical record. “The struggle and sacrifices of our freedom fighters can never be erased,” the statement said. “We will take all possible measures to preserve these archives for posterity.”

Mr Hossain further stressed, “These interviews and documents are more than historical records; they embody the very identity of Bangladesh’s independence and national consciousness. Preserving them is essential for the nation’s memory and dignity.”

The party warned that if the government proceeds with this “anti-Liberation War agenda,” citizens and pro-Liberation political groups would mobilise to protect the archives and ensure that the true history of Bangladesh remains intact.

This controversy has ignited widespread concern among historians, activists, and citizens who fear that losing these primary sources would leave a permanent gap in the documentation of Bangladesh’s fight for freedom. JSD has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding these materials, calling for national vigilance and collective action.