BSS, Dhaka
Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen on Wednesday said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman saw secularism in the light of freedom.
“…Bangabandhu saw secularism in the light of freedom. He was generally interested in the importance of freedom,” he told a virtual meeting.
London School of Economics (LSE) and Bangladesh High Commission in London jointly arranged the second lecture of “Bangabandhu Lecture Series” commemorating the Birth Centenary (2020-21) of the Founding Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Speaking as the keynote speaker on ‘Bangabandhu & Visions of Bangladesh’, Prof Amartya Sen, Thomas W Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics & Philosophy of Harvard University, said Bangabandhu means the friend of Bengal.
“He was a great political leader of Bangladesh and founder of the idea of the independent Bangladesh,” he said.
Focusing on the ideology of Bangabandhu, the Nobel Laureate said “I want to say few words on why his (Bangabandhu’s) idea is remained so important today and today’s world.”
The subcontinent, including India, is going through a changing period of ideological confusion right now, he said.
“Sheikh Mujib was the clearest exponents of secularism from which all countries can learn. This included India, the largest country of the subcontinent,” Prof Sen said, adding that all the countries of the Indiana subcontinent need the Bangabandhu’s idea.
He said Bangladesh itself has gone through ups and downs in terms of secularism but Bangabandhu spoke very clearly on what Bangladesh he wanted.
Putting emphasis on secularism and human freedom, the eminent economist said as per the ideology of Bangabandhu, secularism did not mean that people should not have religious freedom.
He observed that political use of religion can favour one religion over another.
Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Rehman Sobhan, Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Saida Muna Tasneem and Director of LSE South Asia Centre Prof Alnoor Bhimani also spoke at the event moderated by LSE Director Dame Minouche Shafik.
