Nobel Laureate Prof Amartya Sen has said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s ideas of secularism are still relevant and most nations should follow his ideals to build an egalitarian society.
“The subcontinent, including India, is going through a challenge of ideological confusion. Now, we have reason to turn to Bangabandhu’s secular ideas for guidance. All the countries need Bangabandhu’s ideas,” he said.
Prof Sen was speaking at the second instalment of the "Bangabandhu Lecture Series," entitled "Bangabandhu and Visions of Bangladesh," on Wednesday.
He noted that Sheikh Mujib saw secularism in the light of freedom.
Eminent economist Prof Rehman Sobhan said the central element of Bangabandhu’s belief was to build an egalitarian society where no one abused religion or used religion for political motives.
“He wanted to create an egalitarian society where there would not be any privileged elites. One of his driving beliefs was the fact he should never reproduce the constructs of the Pakistan state in a newly liberated Bangladesh,” he said.
Bangabandhu’s early life speaks volumes of his political aspirations, Prof Rehman added.
The event -- organised jointly by the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Bangladesh High Commission in London -- was held as part of the celebrations of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“He built his political party with grassroots level activists,” he said, adding that Bangabandhu travelled around the country on foot, by boat or in third-class railway compartments and dealt with the working class people to form his political party.
The concept of socialism in Bangabandhu originated in his lived experience,” he said.
Prof Sen said Bangabandhu always discouraged the political use of religion, but he always believed in the freedom of people to practise their religion.
“Bangladesh had its ups and down when it comes to secularism but Bangabandhu was seeking a secular democracy when the constitution was written in 1972,” he added.
Secularism is not a new concept in this part of the world, he said while referring to Mughal emperor Akbar.
“ He [Akbar] concluded that there should not be any ban on religion chosen freely by the people,” he said.
Political use of religion favors one religion over another which often leads to violence, he said.
Bangabandhu’s idea of not using religion for political purposes has extensive application even today since it is important for the world, not just for Bengal, he said.
Also Read - Amartya Sen, Rehman Sobhan to talk on Bangabandhu tonight
“India’s situation is more precarious, considering the historical perspective since India was much closer to a secular democracy for many decades until relatively recently,” he said.
Prof Rehman highlighted the fact that Bangabandhu wanted to create a state in which exploitation would be done away with.
“Bangabandhu suggested we should create a society in which the majority population become both the stakeholders and the players in the creation of wealth and the beneficiaries of wealth,” he said.
“We live in a market-driven world now, in which the emergence of elites has become a major feature of contemporary society, including our own society. This is far removed from the dreams and visions of Bangabandhu,” he added.
“If we want to honor him and the people of Bangladesh, the most effective way would be to resurrect his commitment to building an egalitarian society where opportunities are democratized,” said Prof Rehman.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Saida Muna Tasneem said in post-1947 Pakistan, Bangabandhu emerged as a secular in an Islamic republic for people who were oppressed.
Bangabandhu was a man of peace, nonviolence and a Gandhian at heart, she said.
“He envisioned a secular Bangladesh despite being a devout Muslim,” she said.
