The High Court today observed that the distortion of history about Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a book titled "Bangladesh Bank-er Itihash (History of Bangladesh Bank)" is an unpardonable offence by Bangladesh Bank officials.

With this observation, the court cautioned the officials concerned of the central bank saying that they must be careful so that such mistake and distortion don't take place in future.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with the observation and warning while delivering verdict on a writ petition filed by Dr Kazi Ertaza Hasan, chairperson of Bangladesh Human Rights Development Commission, in 2018 challenging the distortion of history in the book.

The HC bench disposed of the writ petition as the BB officials have earlier apologised to the court for the distortion of history and have damaged all books which had contained the distortion.

In the petition, Kazi Ertaza Hasan said Bangladesh Bank in last December, 2017 published the book, in which a picture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not included, and his contribution in establishing Bangladesh Bank was not mentioned in detail.

In the book, pictures of then Pakistan president Ayub Khan and the then East Pakistan provincial governor Abdul Monem Khan was published, he said, adding that the independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh have been diminished due to this act.

Following the petition, the HC in October 2018 issued a rule asking respondents to explain why the distortion of history of Bangladesh in the book should not be declared illegal.

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for the writ petitioner while lawyer Ajmalul Hossain stood for BB officials and Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hasan represented the state.