All Bangla Newspapers from 1972-75 Now Accessible at DU Library – Online News BD Update

In a noteworthy development, the Dhaka University (DU) Central Library has lifted its 12-year-long restriction on a significant portion of its newspaper archives, covering the years 1972 to 1975. These years, marked by the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, represent a crucial period in Bangladesh’s history, and their documentation has long been of immense interest to historians, students, and researchers. The recent decision to grant access to these archives has been widely welcomed by the academic community.

For over a decade, there had been an unofficial embargo on accessing newspapers from this critical era, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was steering the newly independent nation. Many believe this restriction was politically motivated, effectively depriving scholars of a primary resource for studying Bangladesh’s formative years. However, with the recent resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the fall of the Awami League government, the DU Central Library has reversed this policy, once again making these invaluable historical records available.

The DU Central Library is well-known for its extensive collection of daily newspapers, carefully preserved in an archive that dates back to the pre-independence period. These archives serve as an essential resource for those looking to explore Bangladesh’s rich and complex history. However, the previous inaccessibility of newspapers from 1972 to 1975 had been a significant point of contention, particularly for those attempting to gain insights into the political and social dynamics of that era.

One student, Nahid Islam, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in public administration, recounted his frustration from his early university days. When he was a first-year student, he sought out newspapers from this period to support his studies but was disappointed to find them unavailable. “I visited the Central Library with the intention of reading newspapers from 1972-1975, but they were missing. The librarian informed me that these newspapers were not accessible,” Nahid shared. His experience was not unique, as many students faced similar obstacles, leading to widespread speculation and rumors about the reasons behind the restrictions.

The reopening of these archives comes at a time of renewed interest in the early years of Bangladesh’s independence, particularly the period of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s leadership. As news of the unrestricted access spread, students and researchers quickly made their way to the library to examine the once-elusive documents. A visit to the library archive revealed a significant surge in interest, with numerous readers eagerly diving into the newspapers from 1972 to 1975.

However, this renewed access was not without its disappointments. Notably, newspapers from five crucial days in August 1975—specifically, from the 15th to the 19th—were missing from the archives. These dates are of immense historical significance, as they cover the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. The absence of these documents has sparked concern and suspicion among students and researchers. Mohammad Sumon Mia, a fourth-year philosophy student, expressed his frustration, saying, “I checked a volume of newspapers from 1975, but I found that newspapers from at least five days were missing. It’s vital that the authorities take greater care in preserving this history.”

An official from the library offered an explanation, attributing the absence of these newspapers to damage caused by rain and a lack of proper care. “Newspapers from those particular five days were damaged due to rain and neglect,” the official stated. However, this explanation has done little to alleviate suspicions that the newspapers might have been deliberately removed, given their historical importance.

The concern over the missing newspapers goes beyond merely preserving history; it’s about ensuring that future generations have access to unaltered primary sources. As Nahid Islam emphasized, “I came here to read newspapers from 1972-1975 because I want to understand the current situation by comparing it with that time.” For many students, accessing these newspapers is essential for forming a comprehensive understanding of Bangladesh’s past, which in turn shapes their perspective on the present.

To shed light on the situation, Prof Md. Nasir Uddin Munshi, who recently stepped down as the acting librarian of the Central Library, explained the library’s efforts to safeguard these documents. He revealed that there had been a directive from the special tribunal responsible for the trials of the 1971 war criminals to preserve materials from that era. “We carefully preserved newspapers from those years because there was an instruction from the special tribunal conducting trials for the 1971 war criminals to safeguard the history of that time. Occasionally, some documents were taken for use in their proceedings,” Prof Munshi explained.

The reopening of the archives and the renewed access to the 1972-75 newspapers have reignited interest in this critical chapter of Bangladesh’s history. For those seeking to understand the country’s formative years, the availability of these newspapers is an invaluable resource. As online news BD platforms and All Bangla newspapers cover this development, it is evident that the DU Central Library has made a significant contribution to the preservation and accessibility of Bangladesh’s historical records.

In today’s digital age, where online news BD and All Bangla newspapers dominate the media landscape, the importance of preserving physical archives like those at the DU Central Library cannot be overstated. These archives serve as a crucial link to the past, offering a tangible connection to the events that shaped modern Bangladesh. For students, researchers, and history enthusiasts, the renewed access to these archives represents an opportunity to delve deeper into the past and gain a more nuanced understanding of Bangladesh’s journey as a nation.

This move also underscores the importance of preserving all Bangladesh newspapers, ensuring that future generations can access these vital records. As the digital age continues to evolve, the role of physical archives remains indispensable in documenting and understanding history. The DU Central Library’s decision to reopen access to the 1972-75 newspapers is a commendable step in this direction, providing an invaluable resource for those who seek to explore Bangladesh’s rich and complex history.