Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, expressing deep concern over Bangladesh’s ongoing situation, has said his friend Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, is making significant efforts but still faces a long journey to resolve the impasse.
In an exclusive interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI) at his Santiniketan home in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, published on Sunday, Sen stressed that Bangladesh, which has largely restrained communal forces like Jamaat, must uphold its admirable commitment to secularism.
He mentioned that Bangladesh’s situation has deeply affected him, and he remains concerned about how the country will navigate its current challenges.
"The situation in Bangladesh affects me deeply because I have a strong Bengalee sense of identity," Sen told PTI.
“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," he said.
Sen, who spent a significant part of his childhood in Dhaka, started his early education at St Gregory's School. Later, he relocated to Santiniketan and attended the school founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
He highlighted Bangladesh's progress since independence, noting its rising per capita income—once exceeding India's—along with a significant decline in birth rates and a higher life expectancy than India.
"Bangladesh has undergone major economic and social transformations, particularly in advancing women's rights, with contributions from both the government and non-governmental organizations like Brac and Grameen Bank," he said.
Sen observed that newspapers in Bangladesh remained "relatively free," with many thriving despite adopting strong anti-government stances.
He commended the Bangladeshi Army for exercising restraint and refraining from imposing military rule, unlike in many other nations.
The Nobel Prize winner warned against banning the Awami League, saying that such an action would mirror the very mistakes for which other parties had criticized the Awami government.
"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 Bengalee 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 adviser, Sen remarked: "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," Sen said.
Sen firmly denounced attacks on Hindu minorities and temple vandalism, stressing that both the government and the public must take responsibility 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 fuelling 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.
