Morning Brief: Bangladesh Begins Rewriting History Of 1971 Liberation War; Reliance Jio Gearing Up For Rs 40,000 Crore IPO; 'Farmers' Protest' Losing Momentum, Relevance

Here's a roundup of the must-read stories to kickstart your day.

Bangladesh Begins Rewriting History Of 1971 Liberation War

Bangladesh’s new 2025 textbooks will now credit Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as the one who declared the country’s independence in 1971, according to The Daily Star. The books claim Ziaur declared independence on March 26, 1971, and reiterated it on behalf of Mujib the following day, said Prof A K M Reazul Hassan, chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. Ziaur, founder of the BNP and husband of current BNP chief Khaleda Zia, is now positioned in a role historically attributed to Mujib, who led the liberation struggle and is widely regarded as the Father of the Nation.

The changes come under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, who has reportedly caved to Islamist demands to reshape history, including downplaying India’s pivotal role in the liberation war. Some officials in the interim government have gone so far as to claim that India played only a peripheral role in Bangladesh’s independence.

Mukesh Ambani is believed to have initiated the process for the initial public offering (IPO) of Reliance Industries’ telecom arm, Reliance Jio Infocomm, with reports estimating the offering to be in the Rs 35,000-40,000 crore range.

The IPO will include both an offer for sale component and a fresh issue, with a pre-IPO placement already in preliminary discussions. Reliance aims to launch the issue in the second half of the year, potentially making it India’s largest IPO. The pre-IPO placement size will depend on the final size of the fresh issue, and bankers believe there will be significant demand for subscriptions. While several brokerages have valued RJio at around $100 billion, reports suggest it could be closer to $120 billion, reflecting Jio Platforms’ importance to Reliance's investments in next-generation technologies like retail.

'Farmers' Protest' Losing Momentum And Relevance

Nearly four years after forcing the Modi government to repeal the farm laws, the farmers at Shambu and Khanauri are still at it, demanding a legal guarantee of MSP. Their 2024 protest, which began in February, is already falling apart, with infighting among farmer unions and no real leadership. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which once led the charge, has offered support but hasn’t bothered to show up at the protest sites.

The constant disruptions have made the urban population in Punjab indifferent to their demands, while industry stakeholders are fed up with the ongoing circus. Even Haryana, where the protests found some resonance, overwhelmingly voted for the BJP this year. It’s becoming increasingly clear that these protests, once seen as a powerful movement, are now just a nuisance that no one wants to entertain.

Other Developments

2024 Was India’s Warmest Year Since 1901

India recorded its hottest year since 1901 in 2024, surpassing the previous record set in 2016, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Wednesday. The country’s annual mean land surface temperature rose by 0.65 degrees Celsius, marking the highest in 123 years. Globally, 2024 is also poised to be declared the warmest year, with an official announcement awaited. According to IMD, the rising temperatures are a clear indicator of climate change, with recent years consistently breaking records. The sharpest temperature increases in India were observed post-monsoon, with a 0.83 degrees Celsius rise, followed by the monsoon season at 0.71 degrees Celsius.

Infra Projects Down Over 20 Per Cent In December Quarter

In the December 2024 quarter, new government infrastructure projects saw a decline of 22 per cent year-on-year, totaling Rs 6 trillion, while the value of completed projects dropped 52 per cent to less than Rs 1 trillion. Both new and completed projects remain well below pre-pandemic levels from 2019. The private sector also reduced its spending on new factories and long-term assets, with project announcements falling to under Rs 5 trillion, down from nearly Rs 6 trillion the previous year. Government capital expenditure took a sharper hit, with announcements plummeting to Rs 1.1 trillion from Rs 1.8 trillion in December 2023. Despite these setbacks, the manufacturing sector showed resilience, reporting a nearly 20 per cent increase in new project announcements.

15 Killed, 30 Injured in New Orleans Crash And Shootout

At least 15 people were killed and over 30 injured when a vehicle crashed into a crowd in central New Orleans early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 3:15 am at a popular intersection, known for its vibrant nightlife. Reports say a truck drove into the crowd at high speed, and the driver, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, exited and began firing a weapon, prompting a shootout with police. Jabbar was killed in the exchange with law enforcement, according to official reports. The FBI has taken over the investigation, while a massive emergency response, including police, ambulances, and coroner’s vehicles, was seen at the scene.

From The States

Maharashtra: Pawar Reunion On The Cards?

In Maharashtra, calls for a reunion between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar have surfaced after the state polls. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s mother, Asha Pawar, prayed at Pandharpur’s Vithal-Rukmini temple for an end to their family dispute and wished for Ajit’s desires to be fulfilled. Her sentiments were echoed by Praful Patel, a senior leader of Ajit’s NCP faction, who referred to Sharad Pawar as their “deity” and expressed deep respect for him. Patel stated that a united Pawar family would bring immense happiness to everyone involved. The plea for reconciliation comes weeks after Ajit’s rebellion secured him a significant edge over his uncle in the political arena.

The NCP led by Sharad Pawar contested 86 seats but secured just 10, with an 11.28 per cent vote share. On the other hand, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which contested fewer seats (59), garnered a 9.01 per cent vote share and won 41 seats.

MP: Bhopal Gas Disaster Waste Removal Begins After 40 Years

Forty years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, the removal of 377 tons of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory begun on Wednesday night. The toxic waste is being transported in 12 sealed container trucks to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district, located 250 km from Bhopal. A green corridor was created to facilitate the non-stop journey, expected to take seven hours. Around 100 workers, who were provided with health check-ups and rest every 30 minutes, packed and loaded the waste into trucks in shifts since Sunday. The 1984 disaster, caused by a leak of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, killed over 5,000 people and caused lasting health issues for thousands more

A Ground Report From Swarajya

We’ve witnessed a year of monumental change in Ayodhya since the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol. But how much has life really improved for the people of this temple town?

Swarajya’s Ankit Saxena spent several days in Ayodhya ahead of the first anniversary of the consecration, witnessing firsthand how the town has evolved. In our latest report, we bring you compelling stories like that of Deepa ji, who traveled all the way from New Zealand to witness the Ram Mandir — fulfilling what she called her "last wish."

From the newly inaugurated Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport to the transformation in the everyday life of locals, we delve deep into the ground realities of Ayodhya after this historic event. Don’t miss this detailed, on-the-ground report that paints a picture of change, devotion, and hope.

Read the report here.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.