Former Awami League minister Air Vice Marshal AK Khandaker, Bir Uttom begged pardon to the countrymen for presenting distorted information in his autobiography ‘1971: Bhetore Baire’.
The former planning minister of Awami League ruled government during 2009 to 2014 confessed his mistake during a press conference on Saturday (June 1) at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium in Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU).
Prothoma Prokashan published AK Khandker’s autobiography ‘1971: Bhetore Baire’, (1971: Inside and Outside) in August, 2014.
"On page 32, I said: 'I do not think Bangabandhu's speech started the movement for freedom in 1971, because, Bangabandhu ended his speech with the words: Joy Bangla, Joy Pakistan. How can he call for freedom if he ended it with Joy Pakistan...?'," Khandker said.
His autobiography sparked nationwide controversy for presenting a misleading statement of the Liberation War history.
"I believe I hurt the sentiments of a lot of patriots when I wrote that part of the book," he continued. "Regardless of the source, I take the responsibility for writing these false words. Bangabandhu never uttered 'Joy Pakistan' in his March 7 speech."
Khandker asked for Prothoma Prokashan to cut out the controversial section on page 32, and republish the book. "I am withdrawing that whole section from page 32," he said.
Meanwhile, Khandker's wife, Farida Khandker—after initially claiming that the mistake was overlooked by Matiur Rahman (the publisher) and the editors of Prothoma Prokashan—finally gave in to reporters' queries, and said: "Tajuddin Ahmed's wartime Personal Secretary (PS) Maidul Hasan, and Kazi Zafrullah, stopped us from correcting the mistake."
She added, "They said: 'Now that you have fired the shot, take the hit'."
The veteran freedom fighter who was also the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Liberation War and Chairman of the Sector Commanders' Forum.
Senior lawmakers in parliament, mainly from the ruling Awami League, criticised the former planning minister for distorting the facts.
They also demanded ban on the book and asked to bring sedition charges against him.
In response, Khandaker resigned from the Sector Commanders Forum.
