Fanaticism a roadblock for country
Despite significant economic growth, overcoming fanaticism still remains a major challenge for Bangladesh in the way to fulfilling the promise of the Liberation War, speakers told a discussion yesterday.
They said the country earned sovereignty through winning the war in 1971 but it could not free itself from social ills. Returning to the original 1972 constitution will be required to this end, they said.
War Crimes Facts Finding Committee and Research Initiative and Development jointly organised the discussion at the capital's Bishwo Shahitto Kendro.
Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, said everyone talks about the 7 percent economic growth, but inequality continues to increase in the country with the rich getting richer.
It was a constitutional promise that there would be no state religion, but it did not materialise, he said, adding the country was yet to eliminate corruption.
Stamford University Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr K Moudud Elahi said the defeated forces of 1971 are still active, as many people fear to talk against fundamentals at open forums.
On the other hand, nationalism and democracy are at stake because of “worshiping of individuals”, he said. “We have turned the sacred constitution into an insignificant one because of an attitude of compromise,” he added.
Prof Pradip Kumar Roy, chairperson of the department of philosophy at Dhaka University, said that if the true philosophy of the Liberation War is followed, there will be no fanaticism in the country.
Chairperson of War Crimes Facts Finding Committee MA Hasan, educationist Prof Mahfuza Khanam, and US-based medical science teacher Dr Golam Saklayen also spoke at the discussion.
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