Bangladesh govt insists no change to national anthem amid 'India imposed' Amar Sonar Bangla claims

Bangladesh's interim government has made it clear there are no plans to change the country's national anthem, "Amar Sonar Bangla." This comes amid recent claims by a former military officer that India imposed the national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore during the 1971 independence.

'Will not do anything to create controversy'

Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain reassured the public that the Muhammad Yunus-led administration would not engage in any actions that would fuel unnecessary 'controversy'.

He said the government "will not do anything to create controversy".

On Friday, in a show of unity, the cultural organisation Udichi Shilpigosthi held a country-wide event where citizens sang the national anthem in unison. As reported by the Dhaka Tribune, the national flag was also hoisted, and patriotic songs were performed to celebrate national pride amidst the growing conversation about the anthem.

The anthem controversy

At a press conference last week (Tuesday, Sep 3) former military officer Abdullahil Amaan Azmi argued that the anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla' is a relic of the past and doesn't reflect the identity of an independent Bangladesh.

Azmi, son of former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ghulam Azam, argued that the national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore, associated with the Bengal partition, and does not align with the essence of a liberated Bangladesh.

"It reflects the time of the Bengal partition and the merging of the two Bengals."

"How can an anthem created to unite the two Bengals become the national anthem of an independent Bangladesh?" he asked, claiming, "This anthem was imposed on us by India in 1971."

"There are many songs that could serve as a national anthem. The government should form a new commission to select a new national anthem," he said.

Azmi, who had previously been forcibly disappeared and later freed following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also pushed for constitutional reforms to align national laws more closely with Islamic principles. His views gained traction on social media, with several users supporting the idea of selecting a new anthem and suggesting alternatives.

Growing Tensions

The anthem debate comes amid political unrest and rising communal tensions in Bangladesh. The ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, after intense anti-government protests, has led to outbreaks of violence, particularly targeting the Hindu minority. Hindu-owned businesses and temples were vandalised during student-led demonstrations, raising alarm both locally and internationally.

(With inputs from agencies)