ZCZC
BSS-55
AMARTYA-SEN- BANGABANDHU
Bangabandhu saw secularism in the light of freedom: Prof Amartya Sen
DHAKA, Jan 27, 2021 (BSS) – Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen
today 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 tonight.
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.
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