Dhaka, Aug. 16 -- In a move certain to deepen political divides and unsettle decades of state-sanctioned history, Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens' Party (NCP), has declared that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - widely celebrated in official narratives as Bangladesh's "Father of the Nation" - does not merit the title.

The statement, delivered Friday in a lengthy Facebook post, denounced the designation as a product of partisan mythmaking rather than popular will, accusing the Awami League of using it to sustain a personality cult.

"The title 'Father of the Nation' was not born from the people's will," Nahid wrote. "It was manufactured by the Awami League to sanctify a personality cult. We reject this political mythology. Sheikh Muj...