On January 5, 2025, exiled war hero Major Shariful Haque Dalim (Bir Bikram), who is accused of involvement in the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, made explosive remarks during a live talk show hosted by expatriate journalist Elias Hossain. The interview, which aired on Elias’s YouTube channel, quickly went viral.

During the show, Major Dalim shared insights on Bangladesh’s Liberation War and the events of August 15, 1975. He emphasized that the assassination was not a singular event but had roots in the Liberation War itself. Dalim stated that, during the war, they realized the struggle was not for the country’s independence but to serve the interests of others, including India. He recalled that Sheikh Mujib’s autocratic rule had led people to seek liberation from his oppression.

Dalim also referred to the military coup that led to Mujib’s death, explaining that it was not a simple coup but involved intense gunfire between the two opposing sides, with casualties on both sides. He suggested that the revolutionaries emerged victorious and seized power, while the public celebrated the downfall of Mujib’s regime. Dalim extended his support to current revolutionaries and student movements, urging them to work towards building a strong and prosperous Bangladesh.

Additionally, Dalim expressed his views on the national anthem, criticizing the choice of Rabindranath Tagore’s song and suggesting that a work by local poets, such as Kazi Nazrul Islam, could have been a more fitting national anthem.