Originally posted in The Daily Star on 19 August 2021
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a man of his words, lived his life among the common people and worked towards building a society that is egalitarian and free of any form of exploitation, his close accomplices said yesterday.
While remembering the Father of the Nation’s contributions in an online commemorative event, noted politicians and economists, who worked closely with him, highlighted that betterment of the country’s people was Bangabandhu’s first and foremost agenda.
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Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) arranged the discussion titled “Bangabandhuke Kache Theke Dekha: Remembrance by His Contemporaries”.
Bangabandhu had sacrificed his life for a country free of exploitation, inequality and communalism. But his dream could not be fulfilled, even 50 years after liberation.
Dr Kamal Hossain, Gono Forum president and a top leader of Jatiya Oikyafront, who was law and foreign minister during 1972-75, said Bangabandhu had sacrificed his life for a country free of exploitation, inequality and communalism. But his dream could not be fulfilled, even 50 years after liberation.
“We need to find out why, in all these years, we could not establish the values for which he sacrificed his life,” he said.
He proposed a convention of all parties, economists and others within three months to address the issues holding the country back.
Eminent economist Prof Nurul Islam, who served as deputy chairperson of the first Planning Commission of Bangladesh, in a video speech, remembered his time with Bangabandhu.
He was a humanitarian who was greatly distraught by the starvation of people in 1974. He considered it his failure, Prof Islam said.
He [Bangabandhu] was different from those leaders who would say things but act differently after coming to power.
Another noted economist and member of the first planning commission, Prof Rehman Sobhan, said Bangabandhu was definitely a man of his words.
“He [Bangabandhu] was different from those leaders who would say things but act differently after coming to power. This is a unique quality,” he said.
Bangabandhu was a strong believer of an equitable society. One can get a clear idea about his ideals from reading his memoirs and prison diaries, he noted.
One would realise that Bangabandhu lived his life among citizens and he was concerned about the working class and common people. He understood the true nature of the exploitation of farmers and workers, he added.
People were Bangabandhu’s first and foremost concern. He showed no discrimination based on someone’s political ideology. He always respected opposition.
Veteran Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed, who was political secretary to Bangabandhu, said, “People were Bangabandhu’s his first and foremost concern. He showed no discrimination based on someone’s political ideology. He always respected opposition.”
M Syeduzzaman, who served as planning secretary during 1973-75, said Bangabandhu was a pragmatic leader who could recognise people’s needs and priorities.
“The country faced three crop failures in 1972 and 1973, which led to food scarcity. Aside from a little help from abroad, there were virtually no resources coming from domestic or external sources,” he remembered.
The formation of Baksal was part of the “Second Revolution,” he said. “After forming Baksal, Bangabandhu said he would return to a parliamentary system in three years,” he added.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor M Farashuddin, who was private secretary to Bangabandhu, said Bangabandhu paid attention to political allies as well as political opponents.
He said Bangabandhu was scheduled to join a special convocation of Dhaka University on August 15, 1975, and there was a possibility of announcing the institute as a “national university”. He was also supposed to emphasise increasing research at the university.
Communist Party of Bangladesh President Mujahidul Islam Selim, who was vice president of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union for 1972-73, said Bangabandhu was an extraordinary leader and all should judge him objectively.
“We should know, study, understand and practise his ideals,” Selim said.
Planning Minister MA Mannan, who presided over the event, said it is true that disparity still exists in the country. “The highway of development we have chosen due to different reasons is increasing inequality… but if we go ahead with more initiatives, inequality could be diminished.”
Dr Binayak Sen, Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, moderated the discussion.