Rehman Sobhan's Untranquil Recollection launched in Kolkata

Nobel laureate Prof Amartya Sen lauded economist Rehman Sobhan for his notable contribution to the self-reliance of Bangladesh's economy and introducing Bangladesh to the global arena at the publication ceremony of Rehman Sobhan's book "Untranquil Recollection, the Years of Fulfillment" at the National Library in Kolkata on Wednesday.

"Bangladesh's progress is better than India in many sectors, and those who read the book will know more about Bangladesh," said Amartya Sen, according a report by the daily Prothom Alo.

Rehman Sobhan said the book is not about the history of the independence of Bangladesh, rather how he observed Bangladesh's Liberation War.

"I was born in Kolkata and studied at Saint Xavier's College there. Then, I went to Cambridge where I met Prof Amartya Sen," reminisced the author.

"From Cambridge, I came back to Dhaka in 1956 and then came in close contact with Bangabandhu. Those experiences are described in my book," he added.

Indian film star Sharmila Thakur read parts of the book at the ceremony. Chinese Medical Board Chairman Lincoln Chan, Emeritus Prof Amio Bagchi, development economist Prof Siddiq Osmani, Bangladesh's political scientist Dr Rounaq Jahan, and AK Shivkumar, also took part in the discussion.

Sage Publications Chief Executive Vivek Mehra gave the welcome address at the ceremony.

Earlier, former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unwrapped the book in New Delhi.