'Bangladesh situation affects me very much, Yunus has long way to go to resolve impasse': Amartya Sen

Expressing concerns over the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen said his friend Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government, is taking significant steps but has a long road ahead to resolve the impasse. 

In an interview with PTI at his Santiniketan home in India's West Bengal, Sen emphasised that Bangladesh should continue its admirable commitment to secularism.

"The situation in Bangladesh affects me deeply because I have a strong Bengali sense of identity," he said.

"I have spent a lot of time in Dhaka and began my school education there. Aside from Dhaka, I often visited my ancestral home in Manikganj. On my maternal side, I regularly visited Bikrampur, particularly Sonarang. These places have deep personal significance for me. Like many others, I am worried about how Bangladesh will overcome its current challenges." 

I am worried about Bangladesh, but I am not without hope.

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen

Sen spent much of his childhood in Dhaka and began his formal education at St Gregory's School. He later moved to Santiniketan and studied at Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's school.

On Bangladesh's progress since its independence in 1971, Sen highlighted the country's improvements in per capita income – at one point surpassing India – along with a sharp reduction in birth rates and higher life expectancy compared to India.

"Bangladesh has undergone major economic and social transformations, particularly in advancing women's rights, with contributions from both the government and non-governmental organisations like BRAC and Grameen Bank," he added. 

Sen also noted that newspapers in Bangladesh remained "relatively free", with many flourishing despite taking strong anti-government positions. 

He also praised the Bangladeshi Army for its restraint in not attempting to establish military rule, as has happened in many other countries.

The Nobel laureate cautioned against banning the Awami League (AL), arguing that such a move would repeat the same mistakes that other parties had accused the AL government of making. 

"I think Bangladesh should make the best use of its tradition of working together rather than attempting to sideline any particular group. A broader perspective is needed. I hope that the Bengali commitment to freedom and pluralism will persist. And I hope future elections will be more visibly free than many claim they have been. There is room for change. I am worried about Bangladesh, but I am not without hope," he said. 

Asked about his assessment of Muhammad Yunus as Bangladesh's chief advisor, Sen said, "Yunus is an old friend. I know he is highly capable and, in many ways, a remarkable human being. He has made strong statements about Bangladesh's secularism and democratic commitment."

"If you suddenly become the head of a country, as Yunus effectively has, you must consider various factions. There are Islamic parties, and now Hindu factions as well. I have great confidence in Yunus' abilities," he also said. 

Sen strongly condemned attacks on Hindu minorities and the vandalisation of temples, emphasising that it was the responsibility of both the government and the public to prevent such violence.

"This is an important issue because Bangladesh has historically taken pride in its treatment of minorities and its efforts to keep communal forces like Jamaat in check. Unfortunately, there have also been attacks on mosques in India. These incidents, whether in Bangladesh or India, must stop," he asserted. 

"There is nothing easier than fueling communalism by selectively amplifying certain incidents. This is how the Hindu-Muslim riots of the 1940s escalated, leading to bloodshed. We must reflect on our past and consider our future in that light. Selective publicity can be extremely dangerous," Sen warned.