MN Larma worked for a secular society: speakers

MN Larma struggled to establish a secular society where people from all communities would have their rights, which was the main spirit of the Liberation War, said speakers at a programme earlier this week.

The webinar was organised marking the 81st birth anniversary of Manabendra Narayan Larma.

Rashed Khan Menon, president of Bangladesh Workers Party, said MN Larma was determined to protect the Jumma People. He was the one who first raised voice against the Kaptai dam in 1960s. But he was not only vocal for Jumma people, but also for all the deprived.

Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University said MN Larma was against any development that caused destruction for a certain area or people.

DU teacher Robayet Ferdous said MN Larma was a great political thinker, and one could know of his political understanding reading his speeches in parliament.

Zobaida Nasreen of anthropology department at DU said the struggle of Jumma people is to protect their land, their identity; and that is what MN Larma did.

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum secretary Sanjib Drong presided over the session, conducted by Harendranath Shingh. Columnist Abu Sayeed Khan also spoke.

MN Larma took the initiative of forming Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) in 1972 and became its founder secretary. He became an MP in 1973 and later PCJSS president.