STBB apologises for 'offensive' reference to Bihari migration

The word 'escape' is used to describe Biharis' migration from Bangladesh to Pakistan

KARACHI: The Sindh Text Book Board (STBB) has offered an apology for making an offensive reference about the migration of the Bihari community in the Grade 7 social studies textbook. In a statement on Saturday, the board's secretary gave assurances that the mistake would be rectified in the next edition for the academic session 2020-21.

The word 'escape' is used instead of 'migration' in the chapter 'Migration and Settlement,' under a subheading 'An Unplanned Settlement in Karachi.'

"12 lakh Bihari panah gazeenon ki abadi thee, jo Bangladesh sey farar hui thi [there was 1.2 million population of Bihari refugees that had escaped from Bangladesh]," the sentence reads.

This chapter regarding #OrangiTown in Social Studies Book of Sindh Textbook Board has not only highly objectionable content but the mistakes show that the writer of the chapter doesn't know Urdu language. Who has approved the book with such objectionable and poor language? pic.twitter.com/UN5WsU8UrF

— Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) January 30, 2020

The subheading on page 120 of the book narrates the history of Orangi Town in Karachi, where a large part of the Bihari population had settled after 1980. In the next few sentences, the author praised the harmonious coexistence of various ethnic groups in the town, describing the project as a success story. The author also mentioned how the community had helped build the water supply, drainage and other infrastructure in the town.

The mistake was pointed out by Mudassar Ansari of Jamaat-e-Islami's Tanzeem-e-Asatiza wing, who himself belongs to Orangi Town. According to the STBB, several authors have contributed to the book, which was published in 2017-18.

"The author has used improper and biased language that has hurt the community's sentiments and they have expressed their anger on it," reads the board's statement, adding that the author had also realised his mistake and apologised for it.

A committee has also been formed to review the mistake, which will be headed by Hyderabad Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education chairperson Dr Muhammad Memon.

"The textbook will be available before the start of the new academic session 2020-21 with corrections and without any biased material," the board assured.